Overview:

: The Vatican Crematorium In Vatican-City is the only crematorium located within the Vatican City State and is the only crematorium located within the Italian Republic. The crematorium is located at the San Lorenzo Cemetery and is operated by the Vatican burial service. It was established in 1994 to provide a dignified and respectful cremation facility for those who wish their remains to be cremated. The Vatican crematorium is open to all, regardless of their religious affiliation. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Vatican-City
Prominent Features:

The Crematorium or Funeral Fumatorium in the Vatican City is the only crematorium located within the state. The facility has been used throughout the centuries since 304 AD, when Pope Marcellinus ordered that the Church of Rome accept the practice. It is located within the Pontifical Urbaniana University, near St. Peter's Basilica. The building has two Sicilian marble furnaces which are used to cremate the dead. It is also a depository for any remains of past Popes and other prominent individuals of the Catholic Church. This national monument of Vatican-City portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The concept of a crematorium in Vatican-City first arose in 1929 when Pope Pius XI proposed it in a document to the College of Cardinals. The project was headed up by the Vicar-General of Rome, Cardinal Fernando Cento, who requested that the appropriate body of the Vatican carry out the work of creating such a facility. Despite the initial enthusiasm of Pius, the plans were never realized due to opposition from senior clergy in the Roman Curia who argued that a crematorium had no place in the city of the Pope. In the years that followed, the idea of a crematorium in Vatican-City was sporadically discussed, but political and religious considerations in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic state meant that it would remain just a thought. The issue finally resurfaced in 2013, when Pope Francis revived the idea in response to the overcrowding of Roman cemeteries. The plans were met with mixed reactions from across the Church. Some accepted the idea, while others argued against it. Ultimately, the Vatican approved the creation of the crematorium, although its reasoning is still unknown. On 17 December 2016, the Crematorium of St. Peter’s Basilica was inaugurated by Pope Francis and it began to accept requests for cremations. The Vatican-City crematorium is one of the few in Rome, and it is intended to accommodate citizens of the city itself, as well as any others who request its services. The facility conjures a sense of solemnity and beauty, with its marble walls, stained glass windows and detailed statues. Its purpose is to provide dignified burials to the deceased, in accordance with their wishes. You must visit one of these historical places in Vatican-City on your Vatican-City tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Vatican Crematorium was opened in 1963 as a service to Vatican parishioners. It is the only crematorium located in a Roman Catholic Church in the world. 2. Pope John XXIII's funeral was the first to be carried out at the Vatican Crematorium. 3. The Vatican Crematorium is located in the northernmost part of Vatican City, and is surrounded by the gardens of St. Peter's Basilica. 4. It consists of a building built with red bricks and a large area of grass, trees, and flowers. 5. The Vatican Crematorium is run by a group of specially trained personnel from the Vatican's Administration of Internal Territories. 6. The Vatican Crematorium has a strict code of procedure, and only allows the ashes of those who had been baptized and confirmed Catholics to be cremated here. 7. Funerals at the Vatican Crematorium are strictly private and the cremations must take place without the attendance of a priest or other religious figure. 8. All of the remains created at the Vatican Crematorium are buried according to the wishes of the deceased's relatives. 9. A special chapel is located at the Vatican Crematorium for those who wish to pay their last respects before the cremation. 10. The Vatican Crematorium is one of the few locations in the world where you can experience a private and dignified farewell to a loved one. Visit one of the famous monuments of Vatican-City with your friends and family.