In a final act that reflects his lifelong embrace of humility, Pope Francis chose to be buried in a simple resting place on Rome’s Esquiline Hill — historically known as the burial ground for slaves and the impoverished — instead of the Vatican where many of his predecessors lie.
The Vatican confirmed on Monday that Pope Francis, who passed away at age 88, will be laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. His funeral will take place Saturday at St. Peter’s Square, but his burial site marks a profound break from centuries of papal tradition.
“I saw it and thought: ‘This is the place,’” the Pope said in his book El Sucesor, describing the humble candelabra storage room behind a statue of Mary, Queen of Peace, where he wished to be interred.
Santa Maria Maggiore, a treasured site for the Argentine pontiff, held deep personal significance. He prayed there before and after every international trip and visited during critical moments of his papacy, including the COVID-19 pandemic and his post-surgery recoveries.
“I’ve always had a great devotion to St. Mary Major, even before I became pope,” he shared in El Sucesor.
Unlike traditional papal burials, Francis requested a simple grave, with no ornate decoration — just his name, Franciscus, engraved in Latin. He also refused the usual triple-layered coffin encased in lead, instead opting for a modest cypress one.
The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII in 1903.
