The largest and most well attended funeral in living memory took place in Rome today, and the central image throughout was the plainest of wooden boxes, made of cypress wood and featuring some fine dovetail work on the joinery. Simple, unpretentious and, I’m guessing, not nearly as expensive as the polished mahogany and brass caskets pushed by the funeral industry.

If it’s good enough for a Pope…?

Thanks to the Los Angeles Times for use of the photo. Credit: Luca Bruno/AP