The Vatican announced on Tuesday a modification to its stance on the storage of cremated ashes, allowing a small portion to be placed in a location of significance to the deceased, contrary to the previous directive mandating storage in “sacred places.”
While the 2016 guidance remains in force, the Vatican clarified that a minimal portion of ashes can be kept in a meaningful place, provided it doesn’t involve anti-Christian practices. Emphasizing the importance of maintaining the majority of the ashes in sacred locations, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith highlighted that this ensures continued remembrance and respect for the departed.
The Catholic Church, historically cautious about cremation, banned the practice for centuries due to theological conflicts. Though the ban was lifted in 1963, the Church still approaches cremation with reservation.
The recent statement, approved by Pope Francis and issued in response to inquiries from Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, also permits the mixing of ashes in a common urn, emphasizing the need to preserve the memory of each deceased individual.
