Taps with a hammer, organ removal, and three coffins: the curious funeral myths and traditions for a pope

RITUAL: a set of actions or words performed in a regular way, often as part of a religious ceremony.

When a pope dies, Roman Catholic rituals and tradition go into overdrive. But this time ‘round they’ve been simplified. Pope Francis did some serious funeral planning last year!

The hammer

When the time comes, the pope’s death will be confirmed by doctors. Then it’s up to the cardinal camerlengo to verify the death. (The camerlengo is the Church’s top administrator, a senior Vatican official – currently, it’s a cardinal called Kevin Farrell.)

There’s a widely reported myth that he will confirm the pope’s death by gently tapping the pope’s head three times with a silver hammer and, while doing this, will call out the pope’s baptismal/birth name, Jorge Mario Bergoglio. When the camerlengo doesn’t get a response, the pope is pronounced dead. Debate rages about the truth of this. It’s been reported that the Vatican has denied a hammer has anything to do with the confirmation of the pope’s death (anymore).

In the past, this verification of the death was done in the papal bedroom. But last year Pope Francis put a stop to that when he changed the liturgical rites. Instead, the new rite specifies that his (and future popes’ death) is to be confirmed in the pope’s private chapel.

The ring

The camerlengo will then take the Ring of the Fisherman off the pope’s right-hand finger. (The signet ring’s design shows an image of St Peter the Apostle and has the pope’s name engraved. Pope Fancis was presented with the ring at his papal inauguration in 2013.)

Witnessed by the College of Cardinals (all 252 cardinals of the Catholic Church), the cardinal camerlengo will eventually make deep cuts into the ring, ensuring the ring can no longer be used as a seal and signifying the end of the dead pope’s authority.

Sealing the apartment

The pope’s apartment will be locked by the cardinal camerlengo. The rooms are ‘sealed’ with tape to signify the end of the pontiff’s reign and prevent any access until a new pope is elected. This ritual marks the start of the sede vacante, the period when there is no pope.

The viewing and burial

The pontiff must be buried within six days after death.

It’s said that Pope John Paul II wasn’t embalmed when he died in 2005. His body was displayed publicly on a catafalque (a decorated platform) at the Vatican for several days. The previous four popes had been embalmed.

Pope Francis doesn’t want to be viewed on one of those fancy platforms. His body will be inside the coffin which will have the lid off. It’ll remain open until the night before the funeral.

Pope Francis wants to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in honour of his devotion to the Virgin Mary. If his wishes are upheld, this will make him the first pope to be buried there since 1669, breaking the longstanding tradition of popes being laid to rest in the Vatican Grottoes beneath Saint Peter’s Basilica.

The Grottoes are a series if underground chambers. There are 91 popes in those tombs! Back in the day, popes had their organs removed. A church near the Trevi Fountain in Rome holds the hearts of a couple of dozen pontiffs. Pope Pius X put a stop to that in the early 1900s and Pope John Paul II requested not to have any body parts removed.

The coffin

If his wishes for a simple zinc-lined wooden coffin are followed, the Pope will be breaking centuries-old tradition. Up until now, popes have been buried in interlocking caskets placed within each other, made of cypress, lead, and oak/walnut/elm.

Doing it his way: Changing the protocols

Pope Francis approved simplified liturgical rites for the death of a pontiff in April last year. It’s pretty cool that the pope was so proactive about his funeral planning.

Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of papal liturgical ceremonies, told Vatican News the revised rites edition was needed, “first of all because Pope Francis asked, as he stated on several occasions, to simplify and adapt some of the rites so that the celebration of the bishop of Rome’s funeral would better express the church’s faith in the risen Christ.”

And, he said, the revised rites highlight “even more that the Roman Pontiff’s funeral is that of a shepherd and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world.”

In other words, Pope Francis doesn’t want the fancy stuff.

And if you want to keep your funeral simple too, tell someone. Write your wishes down, and have a conversation with your family. And if a ‘bells and whistles’ funeral is what you’re after, tell them that too. The Bottom Drawer Book will guide you through the things you’ve got to think about. As well as lots of Australian-relevant information, there’s room to write your ideas, wishes, and life’s reflections.

If not sticking with tradition and getting his stuff sorted is good enough for the Pope, it’s good enough for you.