A testament that overturns Vatican traditions
Written on June 29, 2022 , his will reads like a whispered prayer in an old Roman church.
He does not mention power or pomp, but only one wish: the place of his eternal rest.
To everyone’s surprise, he asked not to be buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, where most of his predecessors are buried. Instead, Francis chose a discreet but meaningful place: the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a Marian shrine in the heart of Rome.
A final prayer at the feet of the Virgin
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis made a habit of praying before the icon of the Salus Populi Romani. Before and after each apostolic journey, he would come to share his fears, hopes, and thanks.
It is this intimate bond with the Virgin Mary that explains why he wanted his last earthly journey to end in this place of meditation, far from the gold and the tumult.
His tomb will be simple, without embellishment, bearing only a sober inscription:
Franciscus.
Like an old bench in a public park, simple but full of memories, his tomb will bear witness to his desire for humility.
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