Pope Francis, a shepherd to millions and a voice for the voiceless, left the world one final message — a request as simple and heartfelt as the life he lived.
The leader of the Catholic Church passed away peacefully on Monday, April 21, at age 88, a day after surprising the faithful with a brief appearance at St. Peter’s Square for Easter. The Vatican said he suffered a stroke that led to coma and irreversible heart failure.
In a will dated June 29, 2022, Francis, sensing his earthly sunset drawing near, focused on just one thing: where he would await resurrection.
“I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy,” he wrote. And so, he asked to be laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore — the ancient Roman church where he prayed before and after every one of his 100+ apostolic journeys.
His wishes were humble. No grand monuments, no elaborate tombs. Just a simple grave, directly in the earth, between the Pauline and Sforza Chapels — marked only with the name “Franciscus.”
Pope Francis, a shepherd to millions and a voice for the voiceless, left the world one final message — a request as simple and heartfelt as the life he lived.
The leader of the Catholic Church passed away peacefully on Monday, April 21, at age 88, a day after surprising the faithful with a brief appearance at St. Peter’s Square for Easter. The Vatican said he suffered a stroke that led to coma and irreversible heart failure.
In a will dated June 29, 2022, Francis, sensing his earthly sunset drawing near, focused on just one thing: where he would await resurrection.
“I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy,” he wrote. And so, he asked to be laid to rest at the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore — the ancient Roman church where he prayed before and after every one of his 100+ apostolic journeys.
His wishes were humble. No grand monuments, no elaborate tombs. Just a simple grave, directly in the earth, between the Pauline and Sforza Chapels — marked only with the name “Franciscus.”