Pope Francis said Tuesday that he
would have a coffin but no catafalque for his funeral.
The 86-year-old Argentine pontiff, who has had a string of minor
health issues lately and who uses a wheelchair due to bad knees,
said he wanted to be buried "with dignity like every Christian,"
speaking in the interview-book 'El Sucesor' by Javier
Martinez-Brocal.
Recalling the funeral of his predecessor Benedict XVI in January
last year, Francis said: "it will be the last wake celebrated
like that, with the pope's body on show outside the coffin, on a
catafalque.
"I have spoken with the master of ceremonies and we have
eliminated this and many other things, because the ritual was
too overloaded."
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