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yesterday

Pilgrims Begin Venerating Pope Francis’s Modest Tomb in Rome

Following a grand funeral, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore opens for public visitation as the Vatican prepares for the upcoming conclave.

Mort du pape François: des centaines de fidèles se recueillent sur la tombe du pontife défunt à Rome
Un homme visite la chapelle Sixtine au musée du Vatican, le 1er février 2021
Dimanche 27 avril devant la basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure, au lendemain des obsèques du pape François à Rome.
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Overview

  • Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at age 88, was interred in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on April 26 after a funeral attended by 400,000 mourners and fifty heads of state.
  • The tomb, made of Ligurian marble, reflects the late pope’s wish for simplicity, bearing only the inscription 'Franciscus' and a reproduction of his pectoral cross.
  • Public visitation to the tomb began on April 27, with the basilica now open daily until 19:00 for pilgrims to pay their respects.
  • This marks the first papal burial in Santa Maria Maggiore in over three centuries, fulfilling Pope Francis’s 2023 request to rest in this basilica rather than Saint Peter’s crypt.
  • Vatican officials are finalizing preparations for the conclave, expected to begin on May 5 or 6, to elect the next pope after the nine-day mourning period.