Pope Francis’ Will Reveals Final Wish: A Simple Underground Tomb Marked Only ‘Franciscus’

Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday from a stroke and irreversible heart failure, left explicit instructions in his will for a humble burial in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major, a church he held dear throughout his papacy.

The Vatican confirmed his death following a coma, with an echocardiogram sealing the somber announcement.

In a will released the same day, the pontiff expressed his desire for a simple tomb inscribed only with “Franciscus,” reflecting his lifelong devotion to humility and the Virgin Mary.

In his final testament, Pope Francis wrote, “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.”

Pope Francis will

He specified that the tomb be placed in the ground in a niche between the Pauline and Sforza Chapels, near the revered icon of the Virgin Mary with the child Jesus, known as Salus Populi Romani.

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

The Basilica of Saint Mary Major, one of Rome’s four papal basilicas, holds profound significance for Francis, who visited it 125 times during his papacy.

His bond with the church began immediately after his election in 2013 and continued with visits before and after every foreign trip, often bringing flowers to the Virgin Mary’s icon.

Following a prolonged hospitalization in February and March this year, he made it his first stop upon recovery and returned once more before his death.

“I always entrusted my life and priestly and episcopal ministry to the mother of our Lord, Holy Mary,” he wrote, underscoring his spiritual connection to the site.

Francis’s burial at Saint Mary Major marks a historic departure from tradition, as he will be the first pope in over 350 years to be laid to rest there, following Clement IX in 1669.

Unlike many predecessors buried in the Vatican, Francis chose this Marian sanctuary atop the Esquiline Hill, where a “benefactor” has already covered the costs of his burial preparations, as arranged with Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the basilica’s Extraordinary Commissioner.

The Pope’s funeral is expected by the end of this week, adhering to Vatican protocol that mandates it occur between four and six days after his death—likely Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

A procession will carry his coffin across the River Tiber from the Vatican to Saint Mary Major, followed by nine days of official mourning, known as Novendiali. Cardinals will then convene to select his successor.

In his will, Francis reflected on his recent ill-health, writing, “The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples.”

He also extended gratitude to his supporters, adding, “May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me.”

Saint Mary Major, enriched by centuries of papal patronage, houses treasures like a Michelangelo-designed chapel, a gold-laden ceiling, and a crypt said to contain wood from Jesus’s manger.

Yet, it is the Virgin Mary’s icon—credited with saving Rome from plagues and war—that Francis cherished most.

His resting place near this historic symbol cements his legacy as a pope devoted to simplicity, prayer, and the maternal care of Mary.

As the world mourns, Francis’s final wish ensures his eternal rest in a place of profound personal meaning, a testament to a papacy defined by humility and faith.