Vatican's New Guidelines on Cremation Ashes

The Vatican's doctrinal office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), has issued new guidance on the handling of ashes after cremation. In response to questions from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the DDF's prefect, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, stated that a defined and permanent sacred place can be set aside for the accumulation and preservation of the ashes of deceased baptized persons, while also allowing families to keep a minimal part of the ashes in a place significant to the history of the deceased. The Church's teaching on bodily resurrection and the need for sacred respect for the ashes were emphasized. This response is seen as a loosening of the Church's rules on cremation and may lead to further clarifications in the future.