Pope Francis’ final resting place in the Basilica of St Mary Major pays tribute to his deep connection with his heritage and enduring commitment to humility. In a poignant gesture of remembrance and reverence, the late Pontiff’s tomb has been constructed using stone from Liguria, the Italian region where his grandparents once lived.
Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the Coadjutor Archpriest of the Basilica, confirmed in a televised statement that Pope Francis had personally requested to be buried in Ligurian stone. “He wanted a tomb made from the stone of Liguria, the land of his grandparents,” Makrickas said. This heartfelt wish underlines the Pope’s long-standing emphasis on family, simplicity, and faith throughout his papacy.
Located near the Altar of St Francis, the tomb lies nestled in a niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel (Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel. The grave bears a simple inscription—“Franciscus”—and features a reproduction of the Pope’s pectoral cross, capturing his preference for modesty over grandeur.
Departing from the traditional opulent burial customs, Pope Francis had also requested a simple wooden casket. His coffin, sealed on the evening of Friday, April 25, during a liturgical rite led by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, replaces the typical cypress, lead, and oak layers with a zinc lining—another nod to his desire for humility in death.
The funeral Mass is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m. in St Peter’s Square. This solemn ceremony will mark the start of the Novemdiales, the Church’s ancient nine-day period of mourning and prayers for the repose of a pope’s soul. From April 26 to May 4, daily Masses will be held at 5 p.m. (GMT +2) in St Peter’s Basilica, with the exception of Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27, when the Mass will take place at 10:30 a.m. in the square.
Pope Francis’ final wishes embody the humility, faith, and deep family ties that defined his life, ministry, and now, his eternal rest.
