Pope’ funeral ‘being rehearsed’ as Francis I keeps fighting pneumonia | World | News
Pope Francis‘ funeral is allegedly being rehearsed after the 88-year-old was diagnosed with double pneumonia.
The Holy Father’s health has caused concern in recent days, particularly after he was taken to the Gemelli hospital in Rome on Friday.
On Tuesday, the Vatican announced the pope had been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, adding the laboratory tests and a chest X-ray done on Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the pope’s real name, showed the clinical condition continued to present a “complex picture”.
The pope himself appears to be aware of the complexity of his health condition, with two people close to him claiming that the Pope had told them that he might not “make it this time”, according to Politico.
Now, officials are allegedly practicising his funeral, according to Swiss newspaper Blick.
This involves the Swiss Guard, the Holy Father’s personal guard, rehearsing the proceedings, with members under a curfew because they are “preparing for the pontiff’s death”.
Pope Francis reportedly “joked around” with Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister, today after spending a “tranquil” fifth night in hospital. After visiting the pontiff, Ms Meloni’s office said he was “alert and responsive” and they “joked around as always”.
Officials added that the pope “has not lost his proverbial sense of humour”.
Previously, Pope Francis said that he had “already prepared” his tomb.
The location of his burial site and the coffin he will lay in would mark a major break with tradition.
He will not be buried where most of his predecessors are now resting – in the grottoes beneath St Peter’s Basilica.
Rather, the pontiff’s body will be transferred to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in the Esquilino area of Rome.
The holy building is one of the four major papal basilicas, and seven popes, between Honorious III, who died in 1216, and Clement IX, whose death was in 1669, were interred there.
In addition, new rites issued last year detailed that Pope Francis will be laid to rest in a single zinc-lined wooden casket.
Pope Benedict XVI, Francis’ predecessor, was buried in three coffins. These included one made from lead, and were placed inside each other, the MailOnline reports.
