Facebook video showing rituals involving Pope Francis, misleading 

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Juliet Buna

Claim: Facebook user Redlindis Ne claims the late Pope Francis was supported in performing his burial rituals.

Verdict: False! The video is unrelated to Pope Francis and has been circulating since 2022. 

Full Text

Following Pope Francis’s passing on Monday, April 21, preparations for his funeral are in full swing. The Vatican announced that the funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 26, at 10:00 a.m. local time (08:00 GMT) in St. Peter’s Square. The pontiff will be laid to rest immediately after the service.

On April 23, 2025, Vatican officials conducted a solemn 40-minute procession, escorting the Pope’s coffin from his residence to St. Peter’s Basilica. The dignified event featured high-ranking clergy in ceremonial attire and members of the Swiss Guard. By April 24, 2025, thousands had filed into the basilica to pay their final respects during the public viewing of the Pope’s open casket.

However, on April 24, 2025, a Facebook user, Relindis Nen, shared a video claiming that the late Pope Francis was supported in performing his burial rituals. The footage shows a man dressed in a priestly robe being supported by two other priests while engaging in what appears to be spiritual rites. 

The post reads, “Jesus, this is the dead Pope. What’s going on here? This world is really something else. I would prefer to continue minding my business. God for we all.”

As of April 24, 2025, the video has garnered over 86,000 views, over 8,600 shares, and 4,300 reactions, sparking confusion and concern among social media users.

Commenters expressed a mix of shock and scepticism. While some expressed their disbelief and concern, others quickly dismissed the claim.

Joseph Atabong wrote: “THIS IS TERRIBLE, OOH GOD IS THIS TRUE?” while Ezinwanne Emy TV wrote “Relindis Ne this is not the dead pope nor the Catholic Church. Besides, popes don’t wear such vestments. Be guided — not every white garment church is Catholic.” 

Jarul Elias, affirming the activity in the video, wrote, “That’s normal tradition. It happens to every dead pope.”

Due to the engagement the post attracted and the conflicting comments, DUBAWA decided to investigate the claim.  

Verification

DUBAWA used the InVid tool to conduct reverse image searches using the video keyframes. We discovered that the video was first posted on Feb. 1, 2022, by a Facebook page named Lumen Gentium. The original caption, written in Portuguese, referred to Patriarch Elias II, head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, not Pope Francis, as asserted by the claimant.

The translated caption explains that His Holiness and Beatitude Elias II, then 89 years old, was seen officiating the Divine Liturgy while being physically supported by aides due to health issues. The Georgian patriarch, who began his leadership in 1977, is recognised for his long service and influence in religious and national matters. Elias II has long been a revered figure in Georgia, known for opposing Soviet rule and promoting unity among Orthodox communities.

DUBAWA also confirmed that as of April 24, 2025, Pope Francis’s remains lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where thousands of mourners have filed past to pay their respects. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, and will follow the long-established Catholic rites for a papal burial.

What Are the Traditional Burial Rites for a Pope?

In 2024, Pope Francis introduced a more modest version of the Rite of Burial for Roman Pontiffs, updating the traditional funeral rites for popes.

• Under these new guidelines, Pope Francis would be laid to rest in a single coffin, departing from the centuries-old custom of using three nested coffins. 
• The language used during the funeral has also been simplified. Titles such as “Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church” will no longer be used. Instead, the pope will be referred to as “Bishop of Rome,” “Pope,” “Pastor,” or “Roman Pontifex” to reflect a more pastoral and humble tone.
• The funeral Mass is expected to be led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals. He will guide the ceremony with prayers, Scripture readings, and the final commendation, entrusting the late pope’s soul to God.
• In keeping with the global nature of the Catholic Church, the funeral will include multiple languages. The principal prayers will likely be recited in Latin and Italian, with Scripture readings delivered in Italian, Spanish, and English. Shorter prayers are expected to be offered in languages such as Arabic, Polish, and Chinese, honouring the Church’s diverse following.
• Following the service, Pope Francis’s coffin will be moved to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, a church outside the Vatican walls that held special meaning for him. He often visited the basilica, particularly before and after his international travels.
• This will make Pope Francis the first pope to be buried at St. Mary Major since the 17th century, and the first in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican, further underlining his legacy of humility and reform.

Conclusion

The video currently circulating on Facebook is unrelated to Pope Francis’s death or burial. It is an old video that has been in circulation since 2022.