Pope Francis — whose papacy was marked by deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary — passed away on April 21, 2025. The late pontiff’s will, composed on June 29, 2022, and published on the day of his death, has now shed light on his final wishes regarding “the place of my burial.” In a poignant reflection of his enduring Marian devotion, Pope Francis expressly requested that his mortal remains be laid to rest in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. While St. Peter’s Basilica lies at the heart of Vatican City, Saint Mary Major stands beyond the Vatican walls, across Rome’s River Tiber — a fitting location for a man who repeatedly crossed that bridge in his ministry and prayer life.
In the will, which begins with the papal motto “Miserando atque Eligendo,” Pope Francis states:
In the name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.
As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.
Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.
The funeral rites themselves are being held at the Vatican, in keeping with centuries of papal tradition. However, according to official sources within the Holy See, once the final Mass and ceremonies conclude, the coffin containing the late pope’s remains will be transported to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Known in Italian as the “Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore” or the Liberian Basilica, this church ranks among the city’s four major papal basilicas. Opened in the 5th century, it stands on the Esquiline Hill. Although the journey from the Vatican to Saint Mary Major lasts only a short while, it is symbolically momentous: it crosses the Tiber River, illustrating how the beloved pontiff’s final procession literally takes him outside Vatican walls to the other side of Rome.
A Testament to Marian Devotion
Pope Francis’s life and ministry provided ample evidence of his special connection with the Virgin Mary. As is widely known among the Catholic faithful, the late pope would frequently visit the Pauline Chapel inside Saint Mary Major — where the famous icon Salus Populi Romani is venerated — both before and after his international travels. In these private moments, he would ask for the Blessed Mother’s intercession, gratitude, and protection on his journeys. His will reiterates this deep bond:
I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary … giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.
The Choice of Burial Site within Saint Mary Major
According to the will, a simple tomb will be prepared between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel:
I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan.
The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.
By specifying the site so precisely, Pope Francis followed in the footsteps of many predecessors who likewise put great thought into their place of eternal rest. However, it is unusual that a pope would choose to be interred away from the Vatican or St. Peter’s Basilica, underscoring the depth of the late Holy Father’s Marian spirituality.
Financing and Arrangements
The will also addresses financial considerations:
The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica.
This detail testifies not only to the humility of Pope Francis’s request for a simple memorial, but also clarifies how the funeral and burial expenses will be met — ensuring that they do not unduly burden the faithful or the local diocese. In his final lines of the will, Pope Francis offers the sufferings of his last days “to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples,” a final reflection of the mercy, unity, and compassion he consistently championed.
Why the Basilica of Saint Mary Major?
Of Rome’s venerable churches, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major has a distinctive place in papal history, not least because it is the largest Marian church in Rome. Its importance is reflected in its alternative name: the Liberian Basilica, a nod to Pope Liberius (352–366) who, according to tradition, was associated with its founding. Over the centuries, it has been enriched with significant artistic and architectural marvels — fifth-century mosaics, grand chapels, and the celebrated relic of the Holy Crib in the Crypt of the Nativity. Despite its prominence, it remains more accessible than the Vatican to ordinary pilgrims, many of whom find special solace under Mary’s protective gaze.
The Significance of an Extra-Vatican Interment
Mentioning the basilica’s location “outside the Vatican walls, on the other side of Rome’s River Tiber” might seem incidental, but it actually carries substantial symbolic significance. By choosing to be buried in the city center, Pope Francis emphasized his pastoral closeness to everyday people. While papal funerals typically draw vast crowds to Saint Peter’s Square, the final resting place in Saint Mary Major firmly underscores the late pope’s mission of bringing the Gospel message onto the streets — where believers and non-believers from all walks of life cross paths daily.
Looking Ahead
In the days since his death, pilgrims have flocked to pay respects at Vatican City. Many more will gather at Saint Mary Major once the body of Pope Francis is officially transported and interred. As faithful Catholics and admirers around the globe reflect on the Holy Father’s legacy of humility and devotion, his chosen burial site humbly points back to the motherly care of the Blessed Virgin Mary — a hallmark of his entire pontificate.
This historic decision, drawing the final journey of Pope Francis across the Tiber, cements the Basilica of Saint Mary Major’s standing as not merely a monument of faith and art, but now also the chosen resting place of a pope renowned for his mercy and missionary zeal. In fulfilling his vision for a simple tomb — marked only with the inscription Franciscus — Pope Francis’s final wish brings his legacy full circle: he lived as the “Servant of the servants of God,” and rests in the place consecrated to the maternal embrace of the Mother of the Lord.
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