Overview

• Pope Francis selected Santa Maria Maggiore for his burial, emphasizing his papacy’s themes of humility, simplicity, and closeness to the people.
• His tomb, inscribed only with 'Franciscus,' was privately funded with Ligurian marble to avoid burdening the Vatican budget.
• The burial site, prepared in early 2024 under Cardinals Stanisław Ryłko and Rolandas Makrickas, is located in a lateral nave of the basilica.
• Francis will join seven earlier popes interred at Santa Maria Maggiore, including reformist figures like Pius V and Sixtus V.
• A slow public procession through Rome on April 26 will allow citizens to pay their respects, reflecting the openness and accessibility of his pontificate.