Pope Francis chooses a humble wooden casket and burial outside the Vatican, rejecting tradition.

Pope Francis has decided to forego the ornate burial customs of his predecessors, potentially modernizing the Catholic Church.

The 87-year-old pope has opted to be buried in a single wooden casket with zinc lining, deviating from the traditional practice of entombing popes in three interlocking caskets of cypress, lead, and oak.

On Wednesday, the Vatican unveiled a new formal rite that reflects Pope Francis' vision of a more modest Church. This new edition of the liturgical rites was approved by Pope Francis in April and he received the first printed copy on November 4.

The "editio typica" of the "Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis" was succeeded by the new edition of the liturgical book.

The edition was approved in 1998 by Saint John Paul II and published in 2000. It was used in the funeral rites of Saint John Paul II in 2005 and those of Pope Benedict XVI in 2023 with some adaptations.

"Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, announced in a statement that a second edition of the funeral rites for the Bishop of Rome was necessary due to Pope Francis' request, as he has emphasized the need to simplify and adapt certain rites to better reflect the Church's faith in the Risen Christ during the celebration of the Bishop of Rome's funeral."

The Archbishop emphasized that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is not that of a powerful person of this world, but rather a pastor and disciple of Christ, as the renewed rite needed to highlight this point even more.

The pope will be the first in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican, requesting burial at Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church he often visits for prayer before and after international trips.

The last pope to be interred outside the Vatican was Leo XIII in 1903, who lies at Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran.

Francis' decision to abandon the traditional three-casket practice, which creates airtight seals and accommodates objects such as coins or papal documents, is part of his broader effort to simplify papal customs. Additionally, the late pontiff's body will not be displayed on a raised platform in St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing, as has been customary. Instead, visitors will still be able to pay their respects, but his body will remain inside the casket with the lid removed.

The pope, who will turn 88 next month, has made no secret of his health challenges, including knee and back pain that now require him to use a wheelchair. Despite these limitations, he has maintained a busy schedule, including two grueling international trips in September and leading a significant month-long Vatican summit in October.

Last year, Francis expressed his intention to streamline the elaborate and protracted funeral rituals customarily employed for popes.

Reuters contributed to this report.