Are there special burial rituals for a pope?
The pope traditionally is dressed in white vestments, and two layers of white silk are laid over his head and hands. The body is placed inside a cypress coffin, and that coffin is encased in two others: first a lead coffin engraved with the pope’s name and the dates of his pontificate, then a coffin made of elm. In keeping with John Paul’s devotion to rank-and-file Catholics, his casket will be set on the ground during the service, not on a stand. An open Bible will be on top of the casket. Traditionally, the pope is buried with a death certificate, key documents of his papacy, a velvet pouch containing coins and medals struck during his papacy and the remnants of his Fisherman’s ring, which is destroyed after death. Q: How many people are expected? A: The Vatican expects as many as 2 million, which would make the funeral the largest event in Vatican history, surpassing the funeral of Pope John XXIII in 1963, which is believed to have drawn almost 2 million. Q: How tight is security? A
