Crowds of mourners gathered outside the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome on Sunday, April 27, to visit the final resting place of Pope Francis, a day after his funeral service attended by world leaders and royalty. Hundreds of people waited in line early Sunday morning, while an estimated 200,000 others remained in the vicinity of St. Peter’s Square, according to the Vatican.
Francis breaks with tradition
Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, broke from tradition with his choice of burial site. Unlike most popes, who are laid to rest beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, Francis is the first pontiff in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. His final resting place is the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.
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The pontiff was interred at the basilica on Saturday after his wooden coffin was transported through the streets of Rome in the popemobile, passing the Colosseum and thousands of mourners on its journey.
‘Prepare your tomb’
Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the basilica, shared with journalists that in May 2022, he had asked Francis if he would consider being buried at St. Mary Major. The pope initially declined, affirming that popes traditionally should be buried at St. Peter’s Basilica. However, one week later, Francis reportedly told Makrickas, “The Virgin told me ‘prepare your tomb,’” expressing gratitude that the Virgin had not forgotten him.
A special Mass was held Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Square, led by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, who is considered the favorite to succeed Francis. The Mass drew about 200,000 attendees, according to the Vatican.
On Monday, April 28, more than 220 cardinals will gather at the Vatican to decide the date for the conclave to elect the next pope.
