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Typically, the body begins to decompose about 24 hours after death. In the case of Pope Francis, this process was halted using a special method. Thanatopraxy was used to ensure that the faithful could say goodbye to the head of the church one last time.
Thousands of people will file before Pope Francis’s body in St. Peter’s Basilica until Friday. For Catholics, the opportunity to bid farewell to the dead pope is a ritual and a gesture of gratitude. So that the faithful can see the Pope one last time, the Vatican has resorted to thanatopraxy, a well-known practice in the funeral industry that allows the deceased to be laid out in an open coffin in an aesthetically and hygienically perfect manner.
Cadaver preservation technique
Thanatopraxy is a cadaver preservation technique that is mainly used for the public display of the deceased. The procedure, which was last regulated in Italy by a law passed in 2022, is a modern variant of embalming.
Thanatopraxy involves restoring the aesthetic appearance of the deceased through special cosmetics or reconstruction, especially if the body has been disfigured by illness or unusually rapid decomposition.
Delay decomposition
The practice allows the corpse’s decomposition to be delayed through preservation techniques. This involves replacing the blood with a decomposition-inhibiting agent, usually based on formalin. Morticians who are also qualified thanatopractitioners carry out this procedure. Thanatopraxy is essential for public figures who are laid out in an open coffin, such as popes, so that the faithful can pay their last respects to the deceased in a dignified manner. It is not mummification.
There is nothing ancient or exotic about treating the pontiff’s body. It is not about draining or preserving the body for eternity, as the Egyptians did, but about a modern, respectful procedure. The treatment aims not to create a relic, but to give the deceased a dignified and serene appearance for a few days, long enough for the world to bid them farewell.
Strict regulations
Following the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday, his body underwent thanatopraxy to prepare it for public display in St. Peter’s Basilica. The treatment was carried out according to strict protocols and in compliance with Italian and Vatican regulations prohibiting invasive techniques.
Thanks to thanatopraxy, Pope Francis’ body can remain in the open coffin until before the funeral on Saturday. The use of thanatopraxy or similar techniques is not new in the history of the Catholic Church. Over the centuries, popes have often been preserved for religious and practical reasons related to the long duration of funeral ceremonies.
Embalming was once used for popes
Before the introduction of modern thanatopraxy, traditional embalming was used, a much more invasive procedure that involved the removal of internal organs and the use of substances such as formalin or alcohol. Today, more respectful and less aggressive treatments are preferred. However, the aim remains the same: to ensure that the Pope’s body can be displayed for as long as necessary so that many faithful can pay their last respects.
Some observers have noticed a conspicuous bruise on Pope Francis’ face, which was visible during the public unveiling of the body. This is possibly a skin hemorrhage (ecchymosis), a phenomenon that can occur naturally after death, especially if the body was moved or stored in a certain way before the thanatopraxy. According to experts, such signs are not unusual and do not indicate violence or traumatic situations but are usually the result of normal biological processes, such as blood stagnation in the tissue. Thanatopractitioners can cover this up with the right makeup.
The preservation of Pius XII went dramatically wrong
One of the most dramatic cases in the history of the postmortem treatment of popes is that of Pius XII. When he died in 1958, his body was subjected to a “novel” form of embalming by his physician, Riccardo Galeazzi-Lizzi, with catastrophic consequences. Numerous witnesses said the treatment used an experimental technique and unsuitable chemicals.
The result was an accelerated decomposition of the pontiff’s body, which became noticeable after just a few hours: the skin swelled and turned black; the stench soon became so pervasive that some Swiss Guards fainted. Finally, the corpse burst open. This incident caused the Vatican great embarrassment and marked a turning point in the handling of papal corpses.
The case of Pius XII is still cited today as an example of what can happen if the techniques are not carried out correctly. For this reason, with the development of modern thanatopraxy, it was decided to entrust the treatments to professionals and use scientifically confirmed protocols.
- source: krone.at/picture: Vatican Media
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