Pope Francis will rest in the Basilica of Our Lady

Pope Francis, according to his will, will be buried in the Basilica of Our Lady (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome. Francis is the first pope in over 120 years who decided that he would not be buried in the Vatican Grottoes.

The Roman basilica of the Mother of God was a particularly important place for 88-year-old Francis, who visited her at every important moment of his pontificate, before every foreign trip and after it, as well as after several hospitalizations. Francis was here in over 12 years of the pontificate about 125 times and always prayed in front of the painting of Salus Populi Romani (saving the Roman people).

In the niche in the nave

In a will written years ago and announced after death Pope, Franciszek He wrote that he wanted to be buried in this basilica and pointed out exactly the place: “Please, that my grave would be prepared in a niche in the lateral nave between the Paulin chapel (Salus chapel Populi Romani) and the chapel of Sforza of this papal basilica.”

Francis is the first pope in over 120 years who decided that he would not be buried in the Vatican Grotts.

According to the analytical portal of The Conversation, no pope was buried in the Basilica of Our Lady greater than the 17th century, when Clement IX rested there.

“Most of the popes were buried in the Vatican Grotts at the Basilica of St. Peter,” wrote The Conversation.

Seven popes rests here

In December 2023, the Catholic News Agency wrote that seven popes were buried in the Basilica of Our Lady. This basilica is one of the most famous Catholic churches in the world and one of the four “main basil” located in Rome and the surrounding area.

Honorius III was the first pope who was buried in the Basilica of Our Lady. Popes also rested there: Mikołaj IV, Pius V, Sixtus V, Klemens VIII, Paweł V and Klemens IX.