Papal funerals will now follow new rituals, in search of the greatest possible simplicity, including the reduction from three to one coffin during the exposition of the body to the faithful.

Pope Francis himself introduced reforms for the funerals of the Holy Fathers, which will now be less "exuberant".

Among the novelties introduced are the confirmation of death no longer in the deceased's room, but in the chapel, the immediate deposition in the coffin, the exposure of the Pope's body to the veneration of the faithful already in the open coffin and the elimination of the traditional three coffins - made of cypress, lead and oak.

The Apostolic Constitution 'Dominican University' of St. John Paul II, determines that it is up to the cardinals to decide the day on which the body of the deceased pontiff will be transferred to the Vatican Basilica, to be exposed to the homage of the faithful.

The funeral is to be celebrated for nine consecutive days and the burial must take place, "except for special reasons, between the fourth and sixth day after death".

"Pope Francis has asked, as he himself has stated on several occasions, to simplify and adapt some rites so that the celebration of the funeral of the bishop of Rome better expresses the Church's faith in the Risen Christ," said Archbishop Diego Ravelli, master of liturgical celebrations, last year.

In an interview published after his predecessor's death, Francis said he wanted a "simple" funeral, like the one celebrated in January 2023 for Benedict XVI, and that he has already chosen the place where he will be buried - Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four largest basilicas in Rome.

The celebrations maintain the three classic stages: the residence of the deceased Pope, St. Peter's Basilica and the burial site.

The verification of death will now take place in the deceased's private chapel, instead of the bedroom, and the body will be deposited in a single wooden coffin with a zinc interior, before being transferred to St. Peter's; the first transfer to the Apostolic Palace has been eliminated.

In the Vatican Basilica, the body of the deceased Pope is exposed directly in the coffin and no longer on a high skiff; during this exposure, the papal crosier will not be placed next to the coffin, which is closed on the eve of the funeral Mass.

The third stage, at the grave site, includes transferring the coffin to the grave and burial.

A fourth and final chapter of the liturgical book is dedicated to the provisions on the 'novendiales', the Masses in suffrage of the deceased Pope celebrated for nine consecutive days after the funeral Eucharist.

The canonical provisions for the funeral of a Pope were determined by St. John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution 'Universi Dominici Gregis' (1996).

According to paragraph 27 of the Apostolic Constitution, after the Pope's death, "the cardinals will celebrate the funeral rites in suffrage of his soul, for nine consecutive days, in accordance with the 'Ordo exsequiarum Romani Pontificis'.

Chapter V of the first part of the Universi Dominici Gregis contains the paragraphs on the "funeral of the Roman Pontiff" with clear rules for the media treatment of the death.

"It is not lawful for anyone to photograph or take images, by whatever means, of the Supreme Pontiff, whether ill in bed or deceased, nor to record his words on magnetic tape for later reproduction," the document reads. (Source: agencia.ecclesia)