Vatican Reveals Pope Francis’s Future Tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore

Vatican Reveals Pope Francis’s Future Tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore

The Vatican has officially revealed plans for Pope Francis’s final resting place—a modest yet deeply symbolic marble tomb that reflects the humility and simplicity the pontiff has embodied throughout his life. The tomb will be located in a quiet niche within the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a historic and spiritually significant church in the heart of Rome that holds deep personal meaning for Francis.

According to Vatican officials, the tombstone will be elegantly simple, bearing only the Latin name “Franciscus,” without titles or elaborate inscriptions. The marble used for the tomb will be sourced from Liguria, a region in northwestern Italy tied to the pope’s family roots. This detail honors his heritage, as his Italian ancestors once lived in that area before emigrating to Argentina.

Above the tomb, a replica of the pectoral cross that Pope Francis wore during his papacy will be displayed. This cross, a well-known symbol of his pastoral style and personal devotion, will serve as a quiet tribute to the life he lived in service to others.

The tomb will be placed near the altar of Saint Francis, a figure the pope has long admired and taken inspiration from, within the side nave of the fifth-century basilica. Santa Maria Maggiore is not only one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, but also a site of profound importance to Pope Francis. Throughout his time as pope, he frequently visited the basilica to pray before embarking on international trips and upon returning to Rome, especially to honor the Virgin Mary—a devotion that has been a hallmark of his spiritual life.

The pontiff made his burial wishes clear in 2023, publicly stating his desire to be laid to rest in this cherished church. His will included precise instructions for the location of his tomb and emphasized that it should remain plain and unembellished, in keeping with his values of humility and simplicity.

Historically, the basilica is the final resting place of seven previous popes, though the last to be buried there was Pope Clement IX in 1669. In addition to papal tombs, Santa Maria Maggiore also houses the remains of other prominent historical figures, including Gian Lorenzo Bernini—the legendary architect and sculptor who designed the iconic St. Peter’s Square and its colonnades.

Founded in 432 under Pope Sixtus III, Santa Maria Maggiore is renowned for housing some of the Catholic Church’s most treasured relics, such as an ancient icon of the Virgin Mary cradling the infant Jesus, which tradition attributes to Saint Luke the Evangelist.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Pope Francis has always emphasized a lifestyle rooted in modesty, compassion, and service. His choice for a simple burial in a basilica he held close to his heart serves as a fitting final chapter to a papacy marked by humility and devotion.