Pope Francis has decided to break with a long tradition by choosing the place where he will be buried, moving away from the crypts located under St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. According to his spiritual testament, the Argentine pontiff has requested a simple burial in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, located in the center of Rome.
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Francis’s funeral will be held this Saturday in St. Peter’s Square. Afterwards, his body will be moved to the temple located on the other side of the Tiber River, in one of the oldest areas of the Italian capital and a few blocks from the Rome train station.
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In his will, made public by the Vatican, Francis wrote: “The grave must be of earth; simple, without any particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.” Additionally, he specified that the expenses of his burial would be covered “by a sum provided by a benefactor.”
The majesty of Santa Maria Maggiore
Although Francis requested a very modest tomb, the papal basilica where he will rest is known for its impressive beauty. The temple’s ceiling is covered in golden wood, while the natural light that penetrates through the high windows illuminates finely detailed mosaics that run along the central nave.
Santa Maria Maggiore is located at the top of one of the seven historic hills of Rome. It is one of the four papal basilicas in the city and stands out for its bell tower, the tallest in the Italian capital at a height of 75 meters. Its privileged position makes it one of the highest points in Rome.
Unlike other Catholic churches, Santa Maria Maggiore does not have a cross-shaped floor plan. It retains the rectangular structure of an ancient pagan temple originally dedicated to the goddess Cybele. Later, in the year 431, Pope Sixtus III ordered the construction of the basilica as it is known today.
This temple has always had a special meaning for Francis, who used to visit it on Sunday mornings to pay homage to the Virgin Mary. Likewise, he used to go to the basilica before and after his apostolic trips, and after his hospital stays, to pray before the icon of the Salus Populi Romani, the most venerated Marian image in Rome.
One of his most recent visits to Santa Maria Maggiore happened last month, shortly after his discharge from the hospital. There, he offered flowers and prayed before the icon of the Virgin before returning to his residence in the Vatican.
Francishad a “strong connection” with the basilica
Francis made public his decision to be buried in Santa María la Mayor in December 2023. On that occasion, he explained that he maintained a “strong spiritual connection” with the basilica. “I want to be buried in Santa María la Mayor,” he declared. "Because it is my great devotion."
The pope also revealed that for some time he had prepared a place for his eternal rest and that he had worked to simplify the procedures of papal funerals, so that they would be simpler and in line with his vision.
With his burial in Santa Maria Maggiore, Francis will join seven other popes whose remains already rest there, including Pius V (1504-1572) and Clement IX (1600-1699).