Catholic Liturgy

Guides And Explainers

In Catholic funeral practice, an open casket is permitted but not required. The Catholic Church emphasizes funeral rites that focus on prayer, commendation of the soul, and comm...

religion

In Catholic tradition, the pope’s hand is both a practical instrument of governance and a highly symbolic medium of teaching, blessing, and ritual action. Observers often noti...

Catholicism

The question of why the pope's face is covered points to two distinct but complementary items: the zucchetto (small skullcap) and the pallium (a circular band worn around the sh...

Catholic Liturgy and Rites

Lying in state for a pope is a formal, ceremonial status reserved for the rare period between death and burial, typically in St. Peter’s Basilica or another major basilica. It...