Pope Francis Chose Humble Burial in His Spiritual Testament
Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, will be buried in accordance with his simple and humble final wishes as outlined in his Spiritual Testament, dated June 29, 2022, and publicly opened on Easter Monday, hours after his death.
According to his directive, the late Pope will be laid to rest in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, specifically in the burial niche between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel. He requested the grave to be in the ground, without ornamentation, and marked simply with the inscription “Franciscus.”
Francis’s Devotion to Mary and Simplicity
In his testament, Pope Francis emphasized his lifelong devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, stating that he routinely prayed before her icon, Maria Salus Populi Romani, before and after his Apostolic Journeys.
“I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary… giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care,” he wrote.
He also arranged for the cost of the burial to be covered by a benefactor’s donation already allocated to the basilica.
Legacy of Peace and Fraternity
In closing, the Pope offered the sufferings of his final days for the peace of the world and the brotherhood of all peoples. He also extended his gratitude to those who loved and prayed for him, entrusting the burial arrangements to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the extraordinary commissioner of the basilica.
This final act reaffirms Francis’s consistent message of humility, simplicity, and service—a tone that marked his entire papacy
