Why Pope Francis’s apartment door was sealed with wax after his death at 88

The Broken Ring, the Coins and the Will

Another important tradition is the destruction of the Fisherman’s Ring , a symbol of papal power. This jewel will be  struck with a hammer  by the camerlengo to  prevent any falsification of documents . An ancient measure, still relevant in the digital age.

Before the coffin is closed, a bag containing  commemorative coins  minted during his pontificate and a  handwritten summary of his years of service  will be placed inside.

Towards a new era: the conclave approaching

After the  funeral, scheduled for April 24-27 , a nine-day period  of liturgical mourning , called  Novemdiales , will begin. The conclave will then begin  .

120 cardinals under the age of 80 will gather behind closed doors in the  Sistine Chapel . The ballots, held twice a day, will be followed by  black smoke (no pope elected)  or  white smoke (new pope chosen)  rising into the Vatican sky.

A final wish faithful to his vision of the Church

True to himself until the end, Francis wanted a  modest burial  : a wooden coffin, lined with zinc,  without excessive gilding or insignia . He will be buried in the  Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore  in Rome,  breaking with the tradition of burials in the papal crypt of St. Peter’s .

This choice once again reflects  his attachment to the values ​​of humility, proximity and evangelical simplicity .

By sealing the door of his  austere apartment , it is not just a protocol that ends:  it is the closing of an extraordinary pontificate , and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the Church.