Pope says how he wants his funeral to be celebrated

(ANSA) - ROME, - Pope Francis has said how he would like his funeral to be eventually celebrated in a book of interviews with the Catican correspondent of Spanish newspaper ABC. He said that he would have a coffin but no catafalque for the funeral rites. The 86-year-old Argentine pontiff, who has had a string of minor health issues lately and who uses a wheelchair due to bad knees, said he wanted to be buried "with dignity like every Christian," speaking in the interview-book 'El Sucesor' by Javier Martinez-Brocal. Recalling the funeral of his predecessor Benedict XVI in January last year, Francis said: "it will be the last wake celebrated like that, with the pope's body on show outside the coffin, on a catafalque. -- More...