Vatican City, Apr 21: Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta, had requested that his funeral rites be simplified and "focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ", Vatican News, the news portal of the Holy See, stated on Monday.

“The renewed rite," revealed Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, "seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world".

The late Pope Francis had approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced, in April 2024, the portal revealed.

The second edition of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis introduces several new elements, including how the Pope's mortal remains are to be handled after death.

"The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin," the report mentioned.

It was at 9:45 AM on Monday that Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta.

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God," he said.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church had been suffering from respiratory ailments and pneumonia.

He was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on February 14 after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days. Four days later, he was diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.

Pope Francis spent 38 days in hospital and returned to his Vatican residence to continue his recovery.

According to the Vatican News, Pope Frances, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, underwent surgery in his native Argentina in 1957 in his early 20s to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

"As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation," it stated.

--IANS

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