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Pope Francis’s Will Reveals Request for Simple Burial at Saint Mary Major

Following his death, the Vatican confirms the late pontiff's wish for a modest tomb outside St. Peter’s Basilica, reflecting his humility and Marian devotion.

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Overview

  • Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 due to a stroke and heart failure at Rome's Gemelli University Hospital.
  • His will, published hours after his death, requests burial in a simple underground tomb at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
  • The tomb will bear only the inscription 'Franciscus,' breaking with the tradition of papal interment in St. Peter’s Basilica crypt.
  • The burial expenses are to be covered by a benefactor, per instructions given to Msgr. Rolandas Makrickas, a Vatican official.
  • Francis’s choice of Saint Mary Major reflects his lifelong devotion to the Virgin Mary, where he often prayed before and after Apostolic journeys.