Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica: A Humble Farewell to a People's Pope.

In a poignant and historic ceremony marked by simplicity and devotion, Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, was laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The Argentine-born pope, who died at age 88 on Easter Monday, April 21, following a stroke and heart failure, was celebrated for his humility and commitment to the marginalized. His burial, reflecting his lifelong eschewal of grandeur, broke centuries of tradition, making him the first pope in over a century to be interred outside the Vatican. The day’s events, attended by world leaders, thousands of faithful, and Rome’s poor, encapsulated the legacy of a pontiff who sought to “build bridges, not walls.”

A Final Journey Through RomeThe day began with a solemn funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square, where an estimated 250,000 mourners gathered under a radiant spring sky. The Mass, presided over by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was attended by over 130 delegations, including 50 heads of state and 11 reigning monarchs. Notable attendees included U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Argentine President Javier Milei, Britain’s Prince William, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The homily, delivered by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, dean of the College of Cardinals, lauded Francis for his tireless advocacy for refugees, the poor, and peace, noting his “countless gestures” in support of the displaced and his persistent calls to end global conflicts.

Following the two-hour Mass, Pope Francis’ simple wooden coffin, adorned only with a pectoral cross replica, was carried through the square to the sound of tolling bells from St. Peter’s Basilica. In a touching departure from protocol, the coffin was transported in the Popemobile, a white open-top vehicle, allowing mourners lining Rome’s streets to bid farewell. The procession, which passed iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, drew approximately 150,000 spectators who stood in reverent silence, some clutching rosaries or waving Argentine flags. The route, spanning roughly 4 kilometers from Vatican City to the Esquiline Hill, was secured by over 2,500 police officers and 1,500 soldiers, with a torpedo ship stationed off the coast as part of Italy’s heightened security measures.

A Simple Tomb in a Cherished BasilicaAt 1:00 p.m. local time (11:00 GMT), the “Rite of the Entombment of the Roman Pontiff” commenced at Santa Maria Maggiore, a fifth-century basilica revered as one of Rome’s four papal basilicas. The 30 minute ceremony, presided over by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, was intimate, attended only by select clergy and dignitaries. In accordance with Francis’ will, his coffin made of wood with a zinc lining was sealed with red wax by cardinals and placed in a modest niche in the basilica’s left nave, near the Paolina Chapel and the venerated Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary, “Salus Populi Romani.” The tomb, crafted from Ligurian marble, bears only the inscription “Franciscus,” fulfilling the pontiff’s request for a burial “in the earth, simple, without particular decoration.”

Santa Maria Maggiore, where seven other popes are buried, held deep personal significance for Francis. As Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he visited the basilica during his time as a priest and cardinal, and as pope, he made over 100 trips there, praying before the Marian icon before and after international journeys. His final visit was on April 12, 2025, to mark the start of Holy Week. The choice of this basilica, last used for a papal burial in 1669 with Clement IX, underscored Francis’ devotion to Mary and his desire to rest among Rome’s poor, whom he invited to greet his coffin at the basilica’s steps.A Farewell Reflecting Francis’s ValuesThe burial ceremony was steeped in symbolism reflective of Francis’ papacy. A group of marginalized individuals, homeless people, migrants, and transgender women from a Rome convent, selected by the charity Sant’Egidio stood at the basilica’s entrance, paying their respects in a nod to Francis’ championing of society’s outcasts. Inside, the niche chosen for his tomb, previously used to store candlestick holders, epitomized his rejection of opulence. The Vatican noted that a benefactor covered the burial costs, as stipulated in Francis’ will, ensuring no financial burden on the Church.The funeral and burial also facilitated significant diplomatic moments. Minutes before the Mass, President Trump and President Zelensky held a “very productive” meeting inside St. Peter’s Basilica, discussing hopes for peace in Ukraine. The encounter, described as a fitting tribute to Francis’ calls for dialogue, was one of several high-profile interactions, though Trump departed Rome immediately after the funeral, delaying further sideline meetings. A Global Outpouring of Grief and CelebrationThe mood in St. Peter’s Square, despite the somber occasion, carried a festive undercurrent, particularly among younger mourners who took selfies amid hymns. The Vatican reported that 250,000 people had viewed Francis’ body as it lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica from Wednesday to Friday, with some pilgrims camping overnight in nearby piazzas. Cardinal Re’s homily, which elicited spontaneous applause, highlighted Francis’ resilience in facing “raging wars” and his unwavering commitment to the poor, resonating with attendees like Anita Althaus from Germany, who drove overnight to attend and described Francis as “human, with such an open heart.”Tributes poured in globally, reflecting Francis’ universal appeal. Helena Tutoe, an Australian from Cairns, traveled to Rome for the Church’s Jubilee Year and was among the mourners in St. Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, Francis’ last public appearance. A Muslim commenter on social media expressed admiration for Francis’ modesty, calling him “a role model for all people, regardless of religion.” In Rome, the multicultural Esquiline neighborhood, home to Santa Maria Maggiore, buzzed with pilgrims and tourists, many drawn to the basilica’s golden mosaics and the relic of Jesus’ crib.A Legacy of Humility and ReformPope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, redefined the papacy with his simplicity and accessibility. He shunned the Apostolic Palace for a modest Vatican guesthouse apartment, drove a blue Ford Focus, and, as a cardinal, rode the subway. His decision to forgo the traditional triple coffin and public viewing in St. Peter’s Basilica, opting instead for a single wooden coffin and a private burial, was a final act of humility. His 12-year papacy, marked by outreach to the poor, advocacy for migrants, and calls for peace in conflicts like those in Gaza and Ukraine, left an indelible mark on the Church and the world.As the Vatican prepares for the Novendiales nine days of mourning and the upcoming conclave to elect Francis’ successor, Santa Maria Maggiore will open to the public on Sunday, April 27, allowing visitors to pay respects at his tomb. The basilica, with its storied history and connection to figures like Gian Lorenzo Bernini, now houses the resting place of a pope who, in the words of Cardinal Parolin, lived to “build bridges, not walls.”