Funeral Mass and Burial
On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Pope Francis was laid to rest in a private ceremony at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome, following a solemn funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square. The Mass was attended by an estimated 250,000 faithful, along with dozens of world leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Prince William, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Argentine President Javier Milei. The service, which Francis himself helped redesign last year, emphasized his role as a humble pastor rather than a powerful figure.
The funeral began with the simple wooden coffin—adorned only with a crucifix and the papal coat of arms—being carried from St. Peter's Basilica into the square. Pallbearers placed it before the altar, where Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, delivered a eulogy praising Francis as “a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone.” After the Mass ended, the coffin was placed on a modified popemobile—the same one used during his 2016 visit to Mexico—for a final procession through Rome's historic center. The 6-kilometer route crossed the Tiber River, passing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum, as crowds applauded and shouted “Papa Francesco!” Bells tolled along the way.
At St. Mary Major, the coffin was met by a group of about 40 migrants, prisoners, homeless individuals, and transgender people, each holding a white rose—a gesture that reflected Francis's lifelong commitment to the marginalized. Inside the basilica, the coffin paused before the Byzantine icon of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani, which Francis had visited before every foreign trip. Four children placed white roses at the altar of the chapel containing the icon. The coffin was then carried behind a wooden barrier for the private burial, where Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell applied a seal. The marble tombstone, flat against the pavement, bears only the Latin inscription “Franciscus.”
Why St. Mary Major Basilica?
Pope Francis specifically chose to be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica rather than the traditional Vatican grottoes. He had a deep devotion to the ancient icon of the Virgin Mary housed there, known as the Salus Populi Romani (Salvation of the People of Rome). Before and after every foreign trip, he would visit the basilica to pray before this image. This decision made Francis the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in 100 years, since the burial of Pope Benedict XV in 1922. The burial site is located in a side chapel, near the icon he so revered.
The simplicity of the tomb—a flat stone with only his name—matches Francis's personal humility. In his last testament, he requested that no elaborate monument be erected. The Vatican released photos ahead of the burial showing the wooden barrier being prepared and the marble engraving. The site quickly became a point of pilgrimage for the faithful.
Changes to the Funeral Rites
Pope Francis reordered the Vatican's funeral liturgy in 2024, simplifying the rites to emphasize his identity as a disciple of Christ rather than a powerful monarch. Key changes included the use of a single wooden coffin instead of the traditional three nesting coffins (cypress, lead, and oak). The sealing of the coffin occurred on Friday evening inside St. Peter's Basilica, where a white cloth was placed over the pope's face, and a bag containing coins minted during his papacy, along with a one-page written account of his life (called a rogito), were placed inside. The rogito summarized his childhood in Argentina, his priesthood, his time as archbishop in Buenos Aires, and his papacy, highlighting his defense of the innocent, his encyclicals, and his illnesses.
These reforms, explained by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, aimed “to emphasize even more that the Roman Pontiff’s funeral is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful man of this world.” The changes were based both on Francis's own wishes and on lessons learned from the funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2023, which required dealing with the novelty of a retired pope's final rites.
Global Reactions and Attendance
The funeral brought together a rare assembly of global leaders. President Trump attended despite having clashed with Francis on immigration, climate change, and other issues. Trump, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, met privately with President Zelenskyy before the service, where they discussed a potential deal to end the war in Ukraine. Prince William attended on behalf of his father, King Charles III, marking his most significant duty as heir to the throne. President Zelenskyy's presence was initially in doubt due to a recent missile attack in Ukraine. Other notable attendees included Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and Argentine President Javier Milei.
In St. Peter's Square, tens of thousands of ordinary faithful gathered from around the world. Many had originally planned to attend the canonization of Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, which was suspended after the pope's death. Instead, they came to honor Francis. One attendee, Sandra De Felice from Calabria, said, “The Lord wanted it this way, so we came all the same. For me, this is a sign that we need to be truly humble and charitable.”
Francis's Legacy and the Marginalized
Throughout his papacy, Francis consistently reached out to the poor, migrants, and prisoners. The inclusion of 40 representatives from marginalized communities at the basilica meeting underscores this legacy. Annamaria Martinez, a Venezuelan migrant, said Francis “always looked at the best part of every person.” She burst into tears, saying, “He was unique and I’m so sad now.” Francis's decision to be buried outside the Vatican also reflects his desire to be among the people, not isolated in a papal crypt.
Before the funeral, tens of thousands also gathered in East Timor, where a requiem mass was held in Dili, drawing large crowds who remembered his historic visit in September 2024. The pope's influence extended far beyond Rome, as seen in the global outpouring of grief.
The burial of Pope Francis at St. Mary Major Basilica marks the end of an era for the Catholic Church. His simple tomb, located near the icon of the Madonna that inspired so many of his travels, will remain a place of pilgrimage for years to come.
Source: AP News News