‘Bury me in the ground with no decoration’: Pope Francis’s last request

Pope Francis, who died of a stroke and heart failure, has asked for his body laid to rest in one of his favourite places in Rome – the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

The Pope wants to be buried in the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica. Picture: AFP

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Unpretentious to the end, three years before Pope Francis died he made clear that he wanted his funeral to be simple, with his body laid to rest in one of his favourite places in Rome – the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

Francis, who died on Monday after suffering a massive stroke followed heart failure, laid out in his will, written in 2022, that it was at St Mary Major that he wanted to bring his “final earthly journey to end.”

He stressed that he wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” but with the simple inscription “Franciscus.”

He will be first pope to be buried at the basilica since Clement IX in 1669; almost all other popes have been buried in the Vatican.

The Vatican released Francis’s will shortly after confirming how he had died on the morning of Easter Monday, less than 24 hours after he thrilled the crowds in St Peter’s Square by leading the Easter commemoration – and then driving amongst them in his Pope Mobile.

The Vatican announced his death shortly after the Pontiff passed away death at 7.35am (3.35pm AEST) but it was at least another 12 hours before the world would find out the cause of his death – a massive stroke, followed by a coma and heart failure.

Announcing his passing, the Vatican said Francis had been woken by his alarm at 6am (2pm AEST) at the Santa Marta residence where he lived, but had almost immediately suffered a stroke and fallen into a coma. He died of heart failure at 7.35pm.

The Vatican Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Ferrell of Ireland, whose role is to verify the death of a pope, said in a statement: “At 7.35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of his Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favour of the poorest and most marginalised.”

His death came as a shock, particularly after he had appeared to be recuperating from the double pneumonia that had nearly killed him in early March. But the Vatican doctors confirmed that comorbidities including the respiratory issues that had nearly killed him earlier this year had contributed to the Pope’s death.

Dr Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State who issued the official certification, said Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes. It was previously not known he had diabetes.

The Vatican also confirmed that Francis would be buried, not at the Vatican, but in the Pauline Chapel of St Mary Major, a favourite place of his.

The Pontiff asked to be buried in a niche of the side nave between the Cappella Paolina (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Cappella Sforza of the aforementioned Papal Basilica.

In his last testament, written in June 2022, Pope Francis said a benefactor would cover the cost of his funeral, with the sum to be transferred to St Mary Major basilica.

“I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica,” he wrote.

The text of Pope Francis’s last testament reads: “As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.

“Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

“I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.

“The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus”.