Why Pope Francis Chose to Be Buried in Santa Maria Maggiore

 

On April 21, 2025, the world mourned the passing of Pope Francis, a pontiff whose humility, compassion, and tireless advocacy for the marginalized redefined the modern papacy. In a surprising and deeply symbolic decision, Pope Francis asked to be laid to rest not beneath the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica, where many of his predecessors lie, but within the walls of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome’s oldest and most beloved churches.

This choice, while unexpected by some, is a profound reflection of who Francis was — and who he continues to be in the memory of the Church.

A Life Anchored in Devotion to Mary

From the earliest days of his papacy, Pope Francis showed a particular tenderness toward the Blessed Virgin Mary. Santa Maria Maggiore, home to the revered icon Salus Populi Romani ("Protectress of the Roman People"), became a spiritual home for him in Rome. Before and after every apostolic journey, Francis would quietly visit the basilica, entrusting his missions to Mary’s intercession.

In his spiritual testament, Francis revealed that he felt guided by the Virgin herself in choosing Santa Maria Maggiore as his final resting place. It was not just a personal devotion — it was a recognition of Mary’s maternal role in his life and ministry. He wished, even in death, to remain under her loving gaze.

Choosing Simplicity Over Splendor

Pope Francis famously lived simply as Bishop of Rome, declining many of the traditional trappings of his office. His choice of burial reflects this same spirit. Rather than the triple coffin and ornate tomb typical for popes, Francis requested a simple, zinc-lined wooden coffin, marked only with the word "Franciscus."

Santa Maria Maggiore, while majestic, offers a more accessible and humble setting than the awe-inspiring, imperial tombs under St. Peter’s. In his final gesture, Francis reminds us that greatness in the Church is measured not by marble and gold, but by fidelity to the Gospel values of poverty, humility, and love.

A Home for All the People

Another poignant aspect of Francis’ decision is its openness. Santa Maria Maggiore is a place visited daily by locals and pilgrims alike. It is a basilica "for the people," just as Francis styled himself a "pope of the people."

Choosing this site — rather than the more enclosed and symbolically distant Vatican Grottos — sends a clear and moving message: even in death, Francis wished to remain close to ordinary people, to the weary pilgrims of life who, like him, seek the comforting presence of the Mother of God.

A Legacy Rooted in Faith

Historically, Santa Maria Maggiore stands as a testament to the early Church's faith in the Incarnation — the mystery that God became flesh through Mary. It is fitting, then, that the pope who constantly reminded the Church to stay close to the poor, to the suffering, and to the "flesh of Christ" in others would choose to rest forever in a place that proclaims this central mystery of Christian faith.

In this final act, Pope Francis leaves the Church a quiet but enduring lesson: to love with tenderness, to live with humility, to walk always under the mantle of Mary, and to never lose sight of the heart of the Gospel.