Pope Francis Simplifies Papal Funeral Rites with Humble Changes

Pope Francis has approved simplified funeral rites for the death of a pontiff, emphasizing the role of the pope as a shepherd and disciple of Christ rather than a worldly figure. The new rites, detailed in the updated "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis," include changes such as using a zinc-lined wooden casket and placing the body in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. The revisions also update language in prayers and include more saints in the Litany of Saints. These changes reflect Pope Francis's desire for a more straightforward and faith-focused ceremony.