Vatican departs from tradition to grant papal wish for election bells

RESPONDING to Pope John Paul II’s request, the Vatican will depart from centuries-old tradition by ringing bells in addition to sending up white smoke to signal the election of his Pope’s successor.

Before he died, John Paul also made his wish known “to be buried in the ground” and not placed in an above-ground tomb, Archbishop Piero Marini said. He will buried in the tomb left vacant after the remains of Pope John XXIII were exhumed following his beatification.

John Paul will be laid to rest with a white silk veil on his face, a rosary beads in his hands and his body clad in liturgical vestments and the white mitre. Following the centuries-old custom for burying Popes, his body will be placed inside three coffins - wood, zinc and wood - a design meant to slow decomposition, the Vatican confirmed.

A small bag of commemorative medals issued over the course of his 26-year pontificate, as well as a sealed document featuring a brief description in Latin of John Paul’s life, will be buried with him.

Archbishop Marini brushed off rumours that Polish soil would be placed in the coffin.

“Everybody has wishes. It is impossible to fulfil them all,” he said.