Pope Francis, who passed away early Monday morning, will be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, fulfilling his deeply personal final wishes. According to the Vatican, the pontiff had long expressed his desire to be laid to rest near his beloved icon of the Virgin Mary in this sacred Marian shrine.
The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis died from a stroke and irreversible heart failure. Vatican physician Andrea Arcangeli stated in the official death certificate that the Pope fell into a coma before his passing.
Alongside the official announcement, the Vatican also published Pope Francis’ spiritual testament, which provides a moving insight into his final wishes:
“Miserando atque Eligendo. In the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
Sensing the twilight of my earthly life approaching and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set forth my last requests, concerning exclusively the place of my burial.
Throughout my life and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest—in anticipation of the day of Resurrection—in the papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
I desire that my final earthly journey end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I have always stopped to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thanking her for her tender and maternal care.
I ask that my tomb be prepared in a burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the People of Rome) and the Sforza Chapel in the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan.
The tomb must be in the ground; simple, without ornate decoration, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.
The expenses for preparing the burial will be covered by a donation from a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions on this matter to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica.
May the Lord grant a worthy reward to all those who have loved me and continue to pray for me. The sufferings that marked the final part of my life I offer to the Lord for peace in the world and fraternity among peoples.
Santa Marta, June 29, 2022
Franciscus”
The Pope’s humble request emphasizes a life led in devotion and simplicity. Even in death, he chose to forgo grandeur, asking for a plain burial with only his papal name, “Franciscus,” inscribed on his tomb. The costs of the funeral, the Vatican noted, will be covered by an unnamed benefactor, per his wishes.
Pope Francis’ final message resonates with themes that defined his papacy—humility, peace, and dedication to the Blessed Virgin Mary. His body will rest in the Basilica that witnessed many of his prayers, offering a powerful testament to his spiritual journey.
