Pope wants to be buried outside Vatican; simplify papal funeral rites

Pope Francis has decided to vastly simplify the elaborate funeral rites for a pontiff and be the first one to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.

Pope Francis has decided to vastly simplify the elaborate funeral rites for a pontiff and be the first one to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century.

The pope, who turns 87 on Sunday, disclosed plans for his funeral in an interview with Mexico's N+ television on December 12 to mark the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In the interview with the network's Vatican correspondent Valentina Alazraki taped before the Pope presided at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, Pope appeared to have recovered from a bout of bronchitis.

He laughed often while discussing subjects such as his health, migration, his relationship with the late Pope Benedict XVI and travel plans. He said his health was good but asked for prayers as he deals with the limitations of old age.

Pope disclosed that he has been working with the Vatican's master of ceremonies, Archbishop Diego Ravelli, to simplify the elaborate, book-long funeral rites for a Pope that have been used for his predecessors.

Since his election in 2013, Pope has shunned the crimson, fur-trimmed "mozzetta", or cape, and also does not wear a gold cross but has kept around his neck the same faded silver-plated one he used as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He also has not used the plush red "shoes of the fisherman" used by his predecessors. He has kept the same simple black shoes he always used and wears a plastic watch, giving others away so they could be auctioned off for charity.