KBS: Slovak Bishops Will Help Officiate at Requiem Mass during Pope's Funeral

Bratislava, April 25 (TASR) - Ten Slovak Catholic bishops are due to travel to the Vatican for Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday (April 26) in the early morning hours, spokeswoman for the Slovak Bishops Conference (KBS) Katarina Jancisinova told a press conference on Friday, adding that the bishops will also help to officiate at the Requiem Mass. Kosice Archbishop and KBS head Bernard Bober pointed out that it will be a funeral farewell, but believers know that a person doesn't die forever, but moves into a community closer to God. The bishops will travel as part of the delegation of President Peter Pellegrini. "The ceremony will start with a Holy Mass and will continue after the Mass is over," said Bober. The interment of the Pope's remains in Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore will no longer be public. The act of burial will be private. "Before the sealing of the coffin, coins and medals that were struck during the late Pope's pontificate will be placed in the coffin, as well as a short inventory of his pontificate, a brief description of him, and also the so-called pallium, which defines him as a spiritual shepherd," said the KBS spokeswoman. Bober thanked representatives of public life and the whole of Slovakia for their expressions of solidarity; for example, via the KBS website or by signing the book of condolences. am/df