A final meeting with the Virgin Mary
Throughout his ministry, Francis regularly came to pray before the icon of the Salus Populi Romani. Each departure and return from a missionary journey was an opportunity to express his concerns and gratitude.
It is this special relationship with the mother of Christ that explains his desire to rest for eternity in this haven of peace, far from the pomp of the Vatican.
His tombstone will be stripped bare, without superfluous ornamentation, bearing only a simple epitaph:
Franciscus.
Like these old wooden chairs worn by time but rich in shared stories, his burial will reflect his attachment to modesty.
A funeral in accordance with one’s values
The sovereign pontiff had taken care to plan the financing of his own funeral, so as not to burden the Church’s budget.
He had entrusted the organization to Mgr Rolandas Makrickas , with precise instructions to guarantee sobriety and privacy.
He did not forget to thank all those who had accompanied him with their affection and prayers, offering them a final sign of gratitude.
In a final gesture imbued with spirituality, he offered all his trials for world harmony and rapprochement between nations, like a flickering flame in the night of a deserted sanctuary.
A message that spans the centuries
Through these testamentary provisions, Pope Francis transmits to us a crucial lesson: it is in humility that true nobility resides.
Like Saint Francis of Assisi, whose name he adopted, he shows us that the most precious heritage is not counted in monuments, but in gestures of love.
In our world obsessed with appearances, his stripped-down farewell resonates like a call to rediscover what is essential: giving, sharing and believing.
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