The cardinals gathered in the Vatican to begin programming the funeral of Pope Francis after his death on Monday at the age of 88. The date has already been revealed: April 26 at 9:00 am
They will also plan the conclave to choose their successor and make other decisions on the management of the Catholic Church, while world leaders and faithful shout the death of the first Latin American Pope in history.
The first images of Pope Francis were released on Tuesday, which show him in the wooden coffin, with red robes and his episcopal miter, with the Secretary of State of the Vatican praying on him in the chapel of the Hotel Domus Santa Marta, where he lived.
Pope Francis died after suffering a stroke that put him in a coma and caused cardiac arrest.
He was recovering in his department after being hospitalized for five weeks with double pneumonia.
He made his last public appearance on Sunday, giving a Pascual blessing and making his last greeting to his papamósc’s followers, resorting to the Plaza de San Pedro.
The Vatican announced that the first meeting of the Congregation of the Cardinals, which currently brings together the cardinals in Rome, will begin on Tuesday, at 9 am local, in the Vatican Synod room.
Cardinals can decide to allow Pope Francis to be seen by the public on Wednesday morning at the São Pedro Basilica.
In his last will, Pope Francis confirmed that he would be buried in the Basilica of Santa María Maior, who is outside the Vatican and where his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary is located.
After each trip abroad, Pope Francis went to the Basilica to pray before the Byzantine style painting that presents an image of Mary, dressed in a blue layer, holding the Child Jesus, who in turn holds a gold book with jewelry.
Pope Francis passed through the Basilica on March 23, while returning from the Gemelli Hospital, after 38 days of hospitalization, to deliver flowers that would be placed before the icon.
He returned on April 12 to pray to Our Lady for the last time.
See the Pope’s coffin
The Pope’s formal rooms in the Apostolic Palace were sealed Monday night, after a secular ritual.
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who as Camelngo had the task of announcing death and confirming it once determined the cause, presided over the ritual.
Pope Francis decided not to live in the palace, but at the Hotel Domus Santa Marta, in the city of the Vatican.
ADVERTISINGHe died there and his body was transferred to the hotel chapel in the Atrium, where a private wake was carried out on Tuesday to the Vatican employees and members of the Pontifical Family.
In the changes introduced by the Pope last year, his body was not placed in three wooden coffins, as had happened with the previous potatoes.
Instead, it was placed in a simplified wooden coffin with a zinc coffin inside.
Once in San Pedro, its coffin will not be placed in a high blow, but will simply be placed in the seats, with the Pascal candle nearby.
ADVERTISINGFuneral and burial
The funeral will take place on April 26, precisely between the fourth and sixth day after his death.
It will be chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Cardinals or, if this is not possible, by the Vicecan or other Senior Cardinal.
The current Dean is the Italian cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91 years. Deputy Decan is the Argentine cardinal Leonardo Sandri, 81.
Re and Farrell, the Camerlengo, will play a key role in the next few days, since they call the cardinals and prepare the conclave to choose Francis’s successor.
ADVERTISINGThe choice of the next Pope
After funeral, nine days of official mourning, known as “noveliali”.
During this period, the cardinals arrive in Rome to participate in meetings that precede the conclave to choose the next Pope.
To give them all time to meet, the conclave must start from 15 to 20 days after being declared “vacant thirst”, although it can start before if the cardinals agree.
Once the conclave begins, the cardinals vote for secret sessions.
ADVERTISINGAfter the voting sessions, the voting reports are burned in a special stove.
The black smoke indicates that Pope was not chosen, while the white smoke indicates that the cardinals chose the next head of the Catholic Church.
