Lavish funeral for Pope
2005-04-05 09:44
Vatican City - John Paul II's requiem mass on Friday is likely to obey centuries of Roman Catholic tradition in an intricate ceremony before scores of the world's most powerful leaders.
The funeral mass at Saint Peter's basilica will be led by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a possible successor to the pope, after which the pontiff will be buried in the crypt.
The Vatican has so far released only sparse details of the lavish farewell to the spiritual leader of 1.1 billion Roman Catholics, but it is already clear it will follow ancient tradition as John Paul II left no other indications but those contained in the Apostolic Constitution, promulgated in 1996.
They state that after "the death of the Roman Pontiff, the Cardinals will celebrate the funeral rites for the repose of his soul for nine consecutive days".
Four stages
Cardinals who met on Monday before the transfer of the pope's body to Saint Peter's decided the funeral mass should begin Friday at 10:00, six days after John Paul II passed away.
If the funeral of his immediate predecessor, John Paul I, is any indication, the mass is likely to have four stages.
The procession of celebrants accompanies John Paul II's cypress coffin, carried by pallbearers, from inside the basilica to the parvis outside as the Sistine Chapel choir sings the requiem.
The Gospel is placed on the coffin sitting in front of the altar. The celebrants then move to the centre, with the Sistine Chapel choir and Pontifical chapel choir to the left and official delegations to the right.
The solemn mass begins with the Confiteor, a confessional prayer, and other prayers.
Excerpts from the Book of Revelation and the Acts of the Apostles and Gospels, all key New Testament books in the Bible, will be read during mass.
At John Paul I's funeral mass the excerpt was read from the Gospel of John which relates how Christ asked Peter, seen as the first pope, if he will love and follow him till the end.
Ratzinger, the German-born dean of the College of Cardinals and head of the powerful Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, will say the homily, or sermon, but unlike other masses the faithful will not be included in the prayers.
However worshippers can join communion which will be given by hundreds of priests.
The pope's deputy as bishop of Rome, or vicar, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, will recite the final prayer.
The coffin will then be carried back into the basilica as the choirs sing "in paradisum". At the basilica's Saint Martha chapel it will be placed inside a lead coffin which in turn will rest inside an oak coffin.
John Paul II will be buried inside St Peter's grotto in the crypt, in the presence of cardinals, his closest personal aides and close friends.