Papal funeral

[r.ouellette]

Why were the cardinals wearing red vestments instead of white for Pope John II’s funeral Mass as was his body?

Why was the pope’s coffin not covered with the traditional white pall of the funeral Mass?

 

[stbruno]

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The funeral rites for Pope John Paul II and for all popes are meant to be “celebrations in faith and hope,” moments not of mourning but of prayers for his eternal rest in heaven and for the church.

The rites and rituals used – from the formal verification of the pope’s death to the memorial Masses held on the nine days following the funeral – are published in the “Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis” (“Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff”).

That includes the color of his vestments as well as the reason for not having a funeral pall, rather a Book of the Gospels

 

[marty1818]

r.ouellette:

Why were the cardinals wearing red vestments instead of white for Pope John II’s funeral Mass as was his body?

The cardinals were wearing red because the pope is the successor of St. Peter, an apostle. Red is the color used for the feasts of the apostles because they were martyrs and it signifies their blood. All but St. John were martyrs.

God Bless,
Matt