Pope Francis to have a more budget-friendly funeral compared to past Popes, says report

As the world mourns the passing of Pope Francis, the Roman Catholic Church is preparing for his funeral, expected to draw hundreds of thousands of mourners. Unlike his predecessors, Francis requested a more modest burial, with a single coffin made of wood and lined with zinc, buried outside the Vatican. Elected in 2013, Francis was known for his humble lifestyle and desire to connect with normal people.
Financial woes loom over the Vatican, as the cost of papal funerals historically reach millions of dollars. Francis’s funeral costs remain undisclosed, but the Church has faced a budget shortfall in recent years. The city of Rome, already crowded for Holy Week, is seeing an influx of visitors paying their respects to Francis.
Historically, public viewings of the bodies of deceased popes have drawn huge crowds, with estimates in the tens of thousands to millions of mourners. Hotels in Rome are already booked for the next week as people flock to Vatican City to pay their respects. The Vatican’s financial struggles continue to be a concern, as Francis’s reforms and clashes with cardinals highlight the need for financial stability in the Church.

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