Yes, it is traditional for a pope to be buried in three coffins when he passes away. This unique burial custom stems from ancient traditions and symbolism within the Catholic Church. When a pope dies, his body undergoes an elaborate funeral and burial process that involves encasing him in three different coffins, also called caskets, before being laid to rest in a tomb below St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.
Why is the pope buried in three coffins?
The practice of using three coffins for a deceased pope dates back centuries and is highly symbolic. Each of the three caskets serves a specific purpose and represents a deeper spiritual meaning related to the pope’s role and connection to the Catholic faith. Here is an overview of the three coffins used for a pope’s burial:
Cypress Coffin
The innermost coffin is made of cypress wood. This plain, unadorned casket is meant to represent the pope’s human mortality and act as a reminder that despite his lofty position, he is still human. The cypress wood hints at death and the afterlife.
Lead Coffin
The second coffin is made of lead and completely seals and protects the cypress coffin. Lead was traditionally used to help preserve bodies. For the burial of a pope, the lead coffin keeps the inner cypress casket safe from moisture and helps slow decomposition. It ensures the pope’s remains stay intact underground.
Outer Wooden Coffin
The outermost coffin is crafted from wood, usually elm. This ornate coffin is carved with symbolic designs and inscriptions. It is sturdy enough for public display during the pope’s funeral. The elaborately decorated outer coffin represents the pope’s status as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
Together, the three coffins encapsulate the pope’s body and soul and allow the Church to honor him after death through elaborate funeral rites, while also acknowledging his humanity and inevitable mortality. The coffin trio has been part of papal burials since at least the early 19th century.
The Papal Funeral and Burial Process
The funeral and burial rituals for a deceased pope are highly structured, with traditions dating back centuries. Here is an overview of what happens when a pope passes away:
Papal Death Verification
After a pope dies, the papal nuncio—Vatican’s ambassador—formally verifies the death. This used to involve tapping the head of the pope’s body with a special silver hammer.
Embalming
The pope’s body is embalmed to temporarily preserve it. Chemicals are injected and packs are placed on the pope’s face to keep the appearance intact.
Dressing and Casketing
The pope is dressed in red papal vestments and a mitre, along with red papal slippers. His body is then placed into the three coffins for burial.
Private Viewing
Cardinals visit the papal apartments for a private viewing to pay respects and say farewell.
Public Viewing
For several days, the pope’s body lies in state at St. Peter’s Basilica so Catholic faithful can visit and mourn.
Funeral Mass
An elaborate funeral mass, called the Rite of Visitation, is held at St. Peter’s Square. It is typically led by the pope’s successor and attended by clergy and foreign dignitaries.
Burial
After the funeral mass, the pope’s cypress coffin is placed inside the lead coffin, which is placed inside the outer wooden coffin. It is then interred in a tomb below St. Peter’s Basilica.
Papal Tombs Below St. Peter’s Basilica
Most popes are buried in the crypt below St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The underground crypt is located directly below the basilica’s main altar and includes more than 100 tombs, many belonging to past popes. Called the papal grotto, this sacred space traces its origins to the shrine built over what is believed to be the tomb of St. Peter, the Church’s first pope.
The tombs inside St. Peter’s Basilica crypt are simple but solemn. A deceased pope’s name is carved into the marble slab that covers their coffin. A relief sculpture depicts the pope’s coat of arms. Rows of tombs line the walls, commemorating popes throughout history. Not every pope is buried there, however. A few chose different burial spots, sometimes closer to home. Still, most follow the tradition of crypt entombment.
Of note are the more lavish tombs of early popes like John XXIII and Alexander VII. These marble monuments from the Baroque era feature grand sculptures atop the pope’s sarcophagus. John XXIII’s tomb statue shows an angel lifting a cloth from the pope’s face, symbolizing his soul ascending to heaven.
While less visited than the spectacular basilica above, the papal grotto provides a sacred place for popes to be laid to rest surrounded by their predecessors and beneath the seat of Peter, the apostle who Catholics believe was the first head of their Church.
Famous Papal Tombs in St. Peter’s Basilica Crypt
Some of the most famous papal tombs located in the grotto below St. Peter’s Basilica include:
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II was buried in the grotto after his death in 2005. His tomb lies among many other 20th century pontiffs. An estimated 3 million visitors came to see John Paul II as he lay in state.
Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII died in 1963 and was buried in the crypt after his swift canonization by Pope John Paul II. He is most remembered for founding the Second Vatican Council.
Pope St. Peter
St. Peter’s Basilica is named for St. Peter, one of Jesus Christ’s 12 apostles who Catholics believe was the first Bishop of Rome and therefore the first pope. Saint Peter’s relics are said to be contained directly below the basilica’s main altar.
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI commissioned the famous Michelangelo sculpture Pietà before his death in 1547. His elaborate Baroque tomb was completed over 100 years after he died.
Pope Alexander VII
Pope Alexander VII’s ornate bronze and marble tomb features a skeletal winged figure lifting a cloth to reveal the pope’s face, representing the lifting of his soul at the Resurrection.
Pope St. Boniface IV
Pope Boniface IV converted Rome’s Pantheon into a Catholic church to honor Christian martyrs in the 7th century. He was the second pope to be buried at St. Peter’s.
Recent Papal Funerals and Burials
To understand what happens when a modern pope passes away, it helps to examine recent papal funerals and burials over the past few decades:
Pope John Paul II – 2005
Pope John Paul II died in 2005 after a long and highly visible papacy. His funeral drew one of the largest crowds in Rome with an estimated 4 million mourners. He was laid to rest in the grotto below St. Peter’s Basilica.
Pope John Paul I – 1978
Pope John Paul I had one of the shortest papacies in modern times, dying suddenly after only 33 days in office. He was buried in the grotto like most other popes.
Pope Paul VI – 1978
Pope Paul VI was pope from 1963 until 1978, presiding over the Church during a period of drastic modern change. He is remembered for his historic ecumenical work and outreach beyond the Catholic community.
Pope Pius XII – 1958
Pope Pius XII led the Church through World War II and the years after. He took strides to modernize the papacy but was criticized by some for not publicly condemning the Nazis. He was buried in the crypt.
Pope Pius XI – 1939
Pope Pius XI established Vatican City as a sovereign state and was an outspoken critic against fascism and communism. He was one of the first popes to leverage radio technology to reach the masses. His simple marble tomb lies below the basilica.
Exceptions: Popes Buried Elsewhere
While most popes are buried in the crypt below St. Peter’s Basilica, there have been a few exceptions over the centuries. Here are some popes whose tombs lie elsewhere:
Pope John XXIII (d. 1963)
Instead of St. Peter’s crypt, John XXIII is buried in a tomb below St. John Lateran Basilica, his own former cathedral church.
Pope Adrian IV (d. 1159)
The only English pope, Adrian IV is buried in Canterbury Cathedral alongside English kings and saints.
Pope Leo IX (d. 1054)
Pope Leo IX asked to be buried in the basilica of St. Remy in France instead of Rome.
Pope Leo II (d. 683)
Leo II chose to be buried at Abbaye Saint-Pierre d’Autun in his native France instead of Rome.
Pope Clement XIV (d. 1774)
Clement XIV was buried in a simple tomb in the convent of the Discalced Carmelites friars, where he died.
Conclusion
The tradition of burying a deceased pope in three coffins before laying his body to rest in a marble tomb of the crypt below St. Peter’s Basilica is a time-honored custom that connects each pope to his predecessors and provides continuity between leaders of the Catholic Church. While most follow this ancient three-casket burial practice in Rome, a few popes throughout history have chosen different burial spots, usually closer to their homeland. The elaborate funeral rites and intricate triple-coffin burial live on as symbols of a pope’s mortality and humanity while also honoring his profound spiritual role as the head of the Roman Catholic Church.
