Pope Francis, the beloved 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, was laid to rest today inside the historic Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome following a solemn funeral mass held earlier at St Peter’s Square.
The Argentinian-born pontiff, who passed away on Monday at the age of 88, was honoured in an intimate 30-minute burial ceremony that began at 1:00 p.m. local time (1100 GMT). According to the Vatican, the ceremony marked the final wishes of Pope Francis, who had often expressed deep personal devotion to the Virgin Mary and the basilica during his lifetime.
Thousands of mourners, including world leaders, cardinals, clergy, and the faithful, gathered at St Peter’s Square earlier in the day for the funeral mass officiated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. Pope Francis’ wooden casket, bearing his papal coat of arms, was then transported in a solemn procession to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
This burial site holds particular significance for Pope Francis. Upon his election in 2013, his first act outside the Vatican was a pilgrimage to Santa Maria Maggiore, where he prayed before the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani. Throughout his papacy, he returned to the basilica before and after every apostolic journey, entrusting his missions to the Virgin’s protection.
Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in more than 1,200 years. His papacy was marked by efforts to reform the Vatican bureaucracy, champion social justice, address climate change, and promote inclusivity within the Church.
Known for his humility, simplicity, and progressive stance on many global issues, Pope Francis will be remembered as a pope who sought to bridge divisions both within and outside the Catholic Church. His encyclicals, such as Laudato si’ on the environment and Fratelli Tutti on fraternity and social friendship, remain monumental teachings in contemporary Catholic thought.
During the burial ceremony, Vatican officials recited prayers and rites traditional for a pope’s funeral. The casket was placed beneath the basilica, close to the venerated icon of the Virgin Mary he cherished dearly.
The Vatican confirmed that, in accordance with his wishes, Pope Francis declined elaborate monuments or tombs. Instead, he requested a simple plaque, in keeping with his lifelong emphasis on humility and modesty.
Photos shared by Vatican Media captured the poignant moments as the Pope’s casket was lowered for burial, attended by senior cardinals and close aides.
Tributes have poured in from across the world, with many world leaders, religious figures, and ordinary citizens mourning his passing.
U.S. President Joe Biden, a Catholic himself, described Pope Francis as “a moral compass for humanity,” while UN Secretary-General António Guterres hailed him as “a tireless advocate for peace, human dignity, and care for our common home.”
In his native Argentina, three days of mourning were declared, and thousands attended memorial masses across the country.
The Vatican has yet to formally announce the date for the next conclave, where cardinals will gather to elect a new pope. In the interim, the College of Cardinals will oversee the daily operations of the Church.
Speculations are already mounting about possible successors, with analysts predicting a focus on continuity of Pope Francis’ progressive legacy or a potential return to a more conservative leadership.
As Catholics worldwide bid farewell, the spirit of Pope Francis’ teachings — anchored in love, service, and mercy — is expected to endure for generations to come.
