Cardinal Dolan on Pope Francis' Final Resting Place and Church Succession

Pope Francis' Burial Site Choice

• 📍 Cardinal Dolan expresses no surprise that Pope Francis wishes to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
• 💡 St. Mary Major is described as one of Rome's four major basilicas, resembling a parish church with constant activity and outreach.
• 💖 Pope Francis had a particular devotion to the ancient icon of the Blessed Mother, Salus Populi Romani, at St. Mary Major, visiting it before and after journeys.
• 👨‍🦳 This choice reflects Pope Francis' consistent persona as a "good parish priest" throughout his papacy.

The Pope's Role and Church Succession

• 🔑 The primary role of the Pope is to preserve and safeguard the faith as received from Jesus and the Church, not to create new doctrine.
• 💔 The immediate focus is on mourning Pope Francis, thanking God for his life, and praying for his soul.
• 🤝 Following the mourning period, cardinals will engage in daily meetings (congregations) to discuss the Church's vision and challenges.
• 🕊️ The ultimate goal of these meetings is to prepare for the conclave to elect a new successor to St. Peter.

Timeline for Funeral and Conclave

• 🗓️ Cardinal Dolan anticipates that details regarding the funeral, mourning period, and congregational meetings will be set starting tomorrow.
• ⚰️ The funeral is likely to occur on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday.
• ⏳ A nine-day mourning period will follow, with congregational meetings leading up to the conclave, possibly beginning two weeks from today.
• 🌍 Pope Francis' brilliance in appointing cardinals from diverse geographic and linguistic backgrounds means cardinals may not know each other as well as in previous conclaves, potentially making the election process longer.
• ⏳ The 2013 conclave was very short, lasting just over 24 hours, but the upcoming one may take longer due to the increased number of electors and less familiarity among them.