Pope Francis Laid to Rest at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica After Historic Funeral
Pope Francis was laid to rest today at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, bringing to a close a day marked by deep mourning and global reflection on his legacy.
Earlier in the day, a solemn funeral Mass was held in St. Peter’s Square, where an estimated 250,000 mourners gathered to pay their final respects. Among those in attendance were world leaders, dignitaries, and religious figures from over 130 countries, underscoring the Pope’s widespread influence across faiths and nations.
The two-hour service, celebrated under overcast skies, was led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, who praised Pope Francis as “a tireless advocate for the poor and a builder of bridges across divides.”
Following the Mass, Pope Francis’s simple wooden coffin, bearing a modest inscription of his papal name, was transported through the streets of Rome in the Popemobile. Thousands of faithful lined the four-mile procession route, many waving white handkerchiefs, holding candles, and chanting prayers in tribute to the late pontiff.
Applause rippled through the crowd as the cortege moved slowly towards its final destination.In a break from tradition, Pope Francis had requested to be buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a site of deep personal significance.
Throughout his papacy, he often visited the basilica to pray before the revered icon of the Madonna, “Salus Populi Romani,” entrusting his missions and travels to the Virgin Mary.
His decision to rest there, rather than the Vatican grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, reflects the humility and devotion that characterized his tenure.
The Pope’s burial marks the beginning of the Novemdiales, a nine-day period of mourning during which daily Masses and special prayers will be held in his honor.
The Vatican announced that preparations are underway for the conclave that will elect his successor, expected to convene in early May.
Pope Francis, who served as the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, leaves behind a legacy defined by compassion, social justice, and outreach to the marginalized.
His final journey through Rome and resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore stand as lasting symbols of a papacy dedicated to simplicity, service, and spiritual renewal.
