The Last Resting Spot of Pope Francis

ROME: The Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, selected by Pope Francis as his final resting spot, is a fifth-century church located in the heart of Rome. It already houses the tombs of seven previous popes.

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, is the first pope in over a century not to be buried in St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The pope showed deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, often praying at Santa Maria Maggiore before embarking on international trips and upon returning to Rome.

His last prayer at the basilica took place on April 12, as he honored the Virgin Mary ahead of Holy Week, which leads up to Easter.

In 2023, Francis expressed his wish to be laid to rest in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. The last pope interred there was Clement IX in 1669.

Additionally, the last pontiff to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII in 1903, whose resting place is at the Church of Saint John Lateran, the cathedral for the bishop of Rome.

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of four papal basilicas in Rome and holds the remains of other notable figures, including architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed St. Peter’s Square and its surrounding colonnades.

The basilica’s interior has largely maintained its ancient character, featuring 40 Ionic columns lining the central nave and showcasing beautiful mosaics.

One legend associated with the basilica traces back to its origins, telling of a wealthy Roman couple without children who wished to dedicate their wealth to the Virgin Mary. She is said to have appeared in a dream, instructing them to construct a church in her honor, where a miracle would occur: snow fell on the hill in August 352, marking the future site of the basilica.

Another story involves Pope Liberius, who reportedly dreamed of the summer snowfall.

According to the Vatican, however, there are no remnants left of the original church. Construction of the current structure started around 432 under Pope Sixtus III.

This basilica houses some of the Church’s most significant relics, including an icon of the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus, attributed to Saint Luke. It also contains fragments of wood believed to be from Jesus’s crib, with recent studies suggesting they date back to the time of his birth.