Papal Funeral – Some Interesting Symbolism

I’m watching the replay of Pope John Paul II’s funeral.  As you might expect, the proceedings are practically overflowing with symbols and symbolism.  Some examples:

Liturgical color (I):  According to CNN’s archepiscopal commentator, the liturgical color for a pontiff’s funeral is red, the color representing the Twelve, symbolizing the pope’s role as successor to Peter, Prince of the Apostles.

Liturgical color (II):  Another CNN commentator remarked that it was John Paul II who changed the title of the funeral Mass — it used to be known as the Mass for the Dead, but now is the Mass of the Resurrection.  JP II, he said, also changed the liturgical color from black to white, as a celebration of the Resurrection (but I’d seen white used at Episcopal funeral services ever since I can remember going to them). 

The wind:  If you watched the funeral, you could see cardinals holding their hats onto their heads, and their vestments being blown around.  It was a reminder that, in both Greek and Hebrew, the same word is used for wind and spirit (Greek:  pneuma; Hebrew:  ruach). 

The Gospel book:  A red book of the Gospels rested on the casket throughout the Mass, with the wind blowing its pages back and forth.  The CNN commentator said that at a papal funeral, a Gospel book is placed on the casket to symbolize the pope’s primary role, that of preaching the Gospel.  (We could add two other points to the symbolism:  Wind or no wind — disruption or no disruption — the Gospel must be preached; and, the Gospel and the Spirit are inextricably intertwined.)