The world bids farewell to Pope Francis this Saturday as his simple wooden casket journeys to Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome. His contains only a few meaningful items that will accompany him to his final resting place. The 88-year-old pontiff died Monday following a cerebral stroke and heart failure. These carefully selected objects represent both centuries-old Vatican traditions and highlight the humble character of a man who chose simplicity over luxury throughout his papacy.
The Sacred Contents of Pope Francis’ Casket
Cardinal officials will seal the coffin of the late pontiff Friday evening. They will place several symbolic items that have accompanied popes to their graves for generations. Vatican staff will transfer the late Holy Father, dressed in traditional red vestments with a rosary resting on his hands, from St. Peter’s Basilica where thousands of mourners have come to pay their respects.
Vatican ceremonial guides explain, “Several symbolic items are placed in the casket. They include the miter, Francis’ hat, the crozier, or pastoral staff, and his rosary.” Officials will include the fisherman’s ring after ritually destroying it, marking the end of his reign.
Vatican staff will tuck a collection of coins created during his years leading the Catholic Church alongside him. When Vatican officials buried Pope John Paul II in 2005, his coffin contained “26 coins, one for each year of his reign.” Officials will place a legal text called a “rogito,” a biographical summary of his pontificate, inside a metal cylinder within the coffin.
Breaking with Tradition
During his time as pope, Francis made a consistent effort to remove symbols of papal privilege. The Argentine pontiff chose quarters in the Santa Marta guesthouse over the Apostolic Palace. Instead of luxury vehicles, he preferred Fiats, abandoned the traditional red papal shoes, and often referred to himself simply as “Bishop of Rome.” His unscheduled interactions with crowds, personal phone calls to ordinary people, and visits to prisons and refugee camps displayed his rejection of papal isolation. Francis carried this preference for simplicity into his funeral plans.
Most notably, Francis changed the tradition of burying popes in three stacked caskets. “For generations, Vatican tradition dictated that popes be buried in a set of three coffins: a cypress coffin symbolizing mortality, a lead coffin to preserve the remains, and an outer oak coffin reflecting dignity,” mentions one historian.
Rather than following traditions, Pope Francis chose a single wooden casket with a zinc lining. Vatican liturgical master Diego Ravelli explained these reforms were designed “to emphasize 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 his final act of independence, Francis chose burial outside Vatican City. He becomes the first pope in over a century to be laid to rest beyond Vatican walls. He wrote his instructions characteristically modestly: “The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”
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Santa Maria Maggiore: The Final Home for Pope Francis’ Casket
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was a special place for Francis. Throughout his time as pope, he loved a particular painting of Mary, and Jesus kept there. The church names this painting “Salus Populi Romani” (Protector of the Roman People). This ancient painting shows Mary holding baby Jesus. For centuries, Romans have prayed before it during hard times.
Francis began loving this painting long before he became pope. While a cardinal in Argentina, he saw a copy of it and felt strongly connected to it. His bond with the painting grew stronger after becoming pope in 2013. “For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of the Resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.”
He wrote in his final wishes. “It’s my great devotion,” Francis explained in a 2023 interview. After returning from trips abroad, he would go to this church to pray before this beloved painting. His wooden coffin will find its permanent home near this beloved icon. Connecting his earthly remains with the spiritual devotion that guided his life and papacy.
The Final Journey of Pope Francis’ Casket Under Unprecedented Security
As the funeral procession makes its final journey through Rome, authorities are implementing extraordinary security measures. Italian officials have deployed over 2,000 police officers. Including sharpshooters and specialist forces across the city. Air space over the capital will close from midnight Friday.
“A further 400 traffic officers will be on shift,” according to Rome’s police department. Officers will monitor the city’s underground metro system, and security personnel will station sharpshooters on rooftops along the processional route. The Vatican’s security forces will operate independently but coordinate closely with Rome’s police department. The comprehensive security plan accommodates over 130 delegations including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs attending the funeral.
The Church’s Next Chapter
Following Saturday’s funeral procession, the Catholic Church enters a transitional period known as “sede vacante” or “empty chair.” The church begins an ancient Roman mourning period called the “novendiales,” a traditional nine days of remembrance. During this time, a different cardinal will celebrate a public funeral rite each day, allowing the faithful across Rome to participate in communal grieving.
Then comes the conclave, where 135 cardinals under age 80 will gather in the Sistine Chapel to elect Francis’ successor. They will vote until someone receives the required two-thirds majority. An interesting dynamic shapes this upcoming election. Francis himself appointed 108 of these voting cardinals. Thissuggests his successor might continue his focus on environmental protection, migration issues, and church reform.
When white smoke finally rises from the Sistine Chapel chimney, Catholics worldwide will welcome their 268th pope. Yet Francis’ legacy endures through his final teaching. That even in death, a true leader serves through simplicity rather than seeking glory. The carefully chosen items in Pope Francis’ casket tell that story eloquently as it rests in his beloved basilica. His choice of a simple wooden coffin over traditional, elaborate burial containers perfectly symbolizes the humility that defined his papacy. While power ends, the faith and values represented by his final journey continue to inspire believers worldwide.
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