Off The Record
Mystery Behind The Sealing Of Pope Francis’s Private Residence After His Passing
Pope Francis was praised for leading a modest and uncomplicated life, yet when he passed away, a number of archaic and nearly enigmatic customs were abruptly initiated.
Among the first? Almost instantly, his residence was sealed, and the reason for this is more interesting than you may imagine.
Catholics worldwide are grieving the loss of their spiritual leader in the wake of Pope Francis’ death on Monday.
At the age of 88, the Pope passed away from a stroke.
The Vatican starts a highly exacting and tradition-bound process when a pope steps down. For instance, the Vatican unveiled the first striking pictures of Pope Francis in his resting position on Tuesday, providing a somber look at the holy rites celebrating his life.
In the pictures, Vatican officials and members of his family assemble to bid him a special farewell, with ceremonial guards around his open coffin. Francis is holding a rosary in his folded hands and wearing red robes, which stand for martyrdom and the blood of Christ.
A silk cord tied across the door
Senior Vatican officials sealed and locked Pope Francis’s personal house on Monday, another step that followed the Pope’s passing.
Immediately following the Pope’s resignation or death, the sealing occurs. The Vice-Camerlengo, now Archbishop Ilson de Jesus Montanari, is present during the ceremony. To keep the room undisturbed, a silk cord is tied across the door and sealed with wax. No one has entered, as evidenced by the intact seal.
Only after the conclave is over and a new Pope is chosen will the room be unlocked once more and the seal broken.
Pope Francis declined to reside in the Apostolic Palace’s customary papal apartments, according to CBS News. Rather, he settled into a small room in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican’s guesthouse, which is set up more like a hostel.
“He lives in a small room,” said Lucas Schaerer, a Vatican insider who became friends with Pope Francis back in 2008, in a 2015 interview with People.
Why Pope’s apartment was sealed
What was the reason behind the closure of the Pope’s residence? Since Pope Francis choose to live in the modest quarters of the church guesthouse, Casa Santa Marta, instead of the more conventional Apostolic Palace, the ceremony may appear to be mostly ceremonial, but it also serves a functional purpose.
Sky News claims that the custom began as a means of “preventing looting” after the death of a pope.
More significantly, though, it serves as a protection against any manipulation of papal documents or the unapproved publication of materials that are reserved for the future pope. In order to guarantee this, the Camerlengo, or Chamberlain, who is currently Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the head of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life, performs the sealing as a designated official of the Roman Curia.
Another ritual
The famous Fisherman’s Ring worn by Pope Francis during his pontificate has come into focus as the Catholic Church proceeds with funeral preparations and memorial ceremonies.
The ring is thought to be valued around $520,000, but its actual importance is much greater. Within the Catholic Church, the signet ring is a representation of the pope’s authority.
A newly elected pope typically receives the ring and burns it after their death. The camerlengo, or Cardinal, who performs this rite in this instance is Cardinal Kevin Farrell. Originally intended as a seal for the pope’s private correspondence, the ring now has ceremonial significance, and its destruction ensures that it cannot be exploited after the pope’s passing.
Following official confirmation of the pope’s death, shortly before the papal conclave starts to elect a new pope, the ring and its accompanying bulla (papal seal) are destroyed in front of the College of Cardinals.
Pope Francis’ burial is scheduled for Saturday, April 26 at 10 AM local time in St. Peter’s Square, according to confirmation from the Vatican.
Francis once stated that he intended to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome’s Esquilino area, where his body will be taken following the public service.
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