By Christopher Sunday
voxnews.com.ng
Rome, April 21, 2025 — In a deeply personal and humble testament, Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, requested to be buried in a “simple underground tomb without particular ornamentation” at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
This final wish, dated June 29, 2022, was made public by the Vatican following the Holy Father’s peaceful passing at 7:35 a.m. in his Vatican residence at Casa Santa Marta. The Vatican disclosed that the Pope had endured a period of declining health, including recent hospitalizations that kept him away from key Holy Week celebrations.
In his testament, Pope Francis expressed a lifetime of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, explaining his desire to be laid to rest in the ancient Marian sanctuary where he often prayed before and after every apostolic journey. He specified the location of his burial niche—between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel of the basilica—adding that a benefactor had already made provisions to cover the cost of his interment.
The burial arrangement marks a historical moment, as Pope Francis becomes the first pontiff in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican and the first since 1669 to be interred in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
His tomb, as instructed, will bear only a simple inscription: Franciscus.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Argentina, was elected as the 266th Bishop of Rome in 2013 after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. His papacy was marked by a focus on humility, care for the marginalized, and commitment to church reform. His final testament is seen by many as a reflection of the values he championed throughout his life and ministry.
May his soul rest in peace.
