As millions of people worldwide mourn the loss of Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church is making preparations for his funeral, an occasion expected to attract hundreds of thousands of mourners. However, the cost of this event is anticipated to be much lower than those of his predecessors.
Since Wednesday, Francis’s body has been lying in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, giving the faithful a chance to pay their respects. World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, are also expected to attend the funeral, which is scheduled for Saturday morning.
In contrast to his predecessors, Pope Francis requested a more modest burial. In 2024, he altered the traditional burial rules, which previously required three coffins – two made of cypress and oak, with one of lead inside the others. Under the new guidelines, popes are now to be buried in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc. This change also permits burial outside the Vatican, in accordance with Francis’s wishes.
His coffin will be transferred to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, located outside the Vatican’s walls, where he had requested a simple grave. Francis will be the first pope to be buried there since the 1600s, and the first in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican.
Elected pope in 2013, Francis was renowned for his commitment to a humble lifestyle. The Argentine-born pontiff chose to reside in the Vatican guest house instead of the opulent Apostolic Palace and often traveled in simple vehicles.
“He was always more enthusiastic about visiting places where ordinary people lived, rather than the halls of power or palaces. That was a hallmark of his character,” said Massimo Faggioli, professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, in an interview with Al Jazeera.
In his final will, released on Monday, Francis revealed that his burial expenses would be covered by an anonymous benefactor, a arrangement he had made earlier. His body would then be taken to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for interment.
“It’s about symbols, as symbols hold great significance in Catholicism, and this is one of those instances,” Faggioli added.
Vatican Faces Financial Strain Ahead of Funeral
The Vatican has remained silent on the specific cost of Pope Francis’s funeral, declining to provide figures when asked.
Papal funerals have historically been expensive affairs. In 1978, the deaths of two popes and the subsequent conclave cost the Vatican $20 million—equivalent to over $101 million today. More recently, the funerals of Pope John Paul II in 2005 and the election of Pope Benedict XVI together amounted to $9 million (around $14.7 million in today’s dollars).
That same year, the Vatican generated $12.4 million in revenue from an influx of tourists visiting its museums. Other sources of income include donations, investments in stocks and bonds, real estate, and other ventures.
However, in recent years, the Vatican has faced significant financial challenges. Pope Francis, who often clashed with cardinals over Church finances, led efforts to implement financial reforms—some of which faced resistance, including salary cuts for top-ranking officials. Just three days before his hospitalization in late February, Francis was in discussions about financial matters.
In 2024, the Church faced an $87 million budget shortfall, according to Reuters, citing sources familiar with the situation. The Vatican has not published a comprehensive budget since 2022.
“The Vatican needs money because it now serves a much larger global community, particularly in poorer countries. Meanwhile, the number of Catholics in wealthier nations is declining, which creates an imbalance,” said Faggioli.
Crowds Flock to Rome
Rome, already bustling with visitors for Holy Week, is seeing even more crowds as people gather to mourn Pope Francis’s passing. While it remains uncertain how many will stay for the funeral or attend the public viewing of his body, tens of thousands have already come to pay their respects.
Historically, papal funerals have drawn massive crowds. In 1978, an estimated 100,000 mourned Pope Paul VI. In 2005, Pope John Paul II’s funeral attracted an estimated four million mourners to Rome. In comparison, about 50,000 attended Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral in January 2023, with over 136,000 people tuning in to watch the service on the Vatican’s YouTube livestream, a recent addition for those unable to be in Rome.
For now, accommodations are scarce. Residenza Paolo VI, one of the nearest hotels to Vatican City, is fully booked through mid-May. TMark Hotel Vaticano is also sold out for the upcoming week, according to its website.
– Magdalena Motha, news contributor for Foxton News
