Pontiff dedicated the text to indicate the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica in Rome as the place he would like to be buried
Pope Francis, 88, this Monday (21.ab.2025) for respiratory failure, which a stroke (stroke). In February, the pontiff was hospitalized to treat pneumonia on 2 lungs. Francisco also had high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.
In 2022, he wrote his will. According to the text, by the Vatican, Francis indicated the place where he would like to be buried: the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, where, according to the Pontiff, he was heading to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic trip.
Left another request: “The tomb should be on the floor; simple, without special decoration and with a single inscription: Franciscus.”
This is the Testament written by the Pontiff (PDF – 194 KB). Also read below:
“In the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
“Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life approaches and with living hope in eternal life, I want to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my grave.
“I have always trusted my life and priestly and episcopal ministry to the mother of our Lord, Mary Most Holy. So I ask my remains to rest, waiting for the day of resurrection, in the papal basilica of Santa Mary Maior.
“I wish my last earthly trip to conclude precisely in this very antique Marian Sanctuary, where I drove to pray at the beginning and end of each apostolic trip, to confidently give my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and to thank her for her docile and maternal care.
“I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side corridor between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of this same papal basilica, as indicated in the Annex.
“The tomb should be on the floor; simple, without special decoration and with a single inscription: Franciscus.
“Expenses for the preparation of my grave will be covered by the sum of the benefactor I provided, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maior and to which I gave appropriate instructions to the Archbishop Rolling Makrickas, the extraordinary commission of the basilica.
“May the Lord give the well -deserved reward to those who wanted me well and who will continue to pray for me. The suffering that was present in the last part of my life I offer you to the Lord for peace in the world and the fraternity among the peoples.
“Santa Marta, June 29, 2022”
