Pope Francis was buried inside his favorite church in Rome following a funeral Mass held at St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announced on Saturday.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who passed away on Monday, was laid to rest during a solemn 30-minute ceremony that commenced at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) at the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica.
Footage shared by the Holy See showed cardinals sealing his wooden and zinc coffin with red wax, while Cardinal Kevin Farrell, serving as camerlengo, sprinkled holy water over it before it was lowered into a tomb nestled within an alcove.
A reproduction of the pectoral cross worn by Francis during his lifetime hung above it.
Francis had asked that the tomb, located near the altar of Saint Francis, be simple and unadorned, reflecting the humble spirit of his papacy.
The tombstone bears only the inscription “Franciscus” — the pope’s name in Latin.
Its marble is sourced from Liguria, the northwestern Italian region once home to the Argentine pontiff’s Italian ancestors.
Francis, born Jorge Bergoglio, had specified in his will the exact spot he wanted to be buried, in the side nave of the beloved fifth-century AD church.
The pontiff was devoted to the worship of the Virgin Mary and made a point of praying in Santa Maria Maggiore before leaving on trips abroad and upon his return to Rome.
He declared his desire to be entombed there in 2023.
Located in the heart of Rome, the basilica already holds the tombs of seven popes.
But the last one to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669. More recently, popes have usually been buried in St Peter’s Basilica.
One of four papal basilicas in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore also holds the remains of several other renowned figures, such as the architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed St Peter’s Square and its surrounding columns.
Built around 432 AD under Pope Sixtus III, the basilica houses significant Catholic relics, including an icon of the Virgin Mary attributed to Saint Luke. (AFP)
What you should know
Pope Francis’ burial at Santa Maria Maggiore marks a profound fulfillment of his lifelong devotion to humility and the Virgin Mary.
Choosing the fifth-century basilica over the traditional resting place of St. Peter’s Basilica sets Francis apart from his predecessors, emphasizing his desire for a simpler and spiritually centered legacy.
The decision reflects his deep personal connection to the basilica, where he consistently prayed before and after his journeys.
His tombstone, inscribed only with “Franciscus,” underscores the unadorned spirit he upheld throughout his papacy.
The burial also revives a centuries-old tradition, as no pope had been interred at Santa Maria Maggiore since Clement IX in 1669.
Francis’ resting place, near the altar of Saint Francis, now stands as a quiet testament to a pontiff who reshaped the modern papacy with compassion, simplicity, and unwavering faith.
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