Pope Francis, the Spiritual Leader of the Global Catholic Christians, Laid to Eternal Rest at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome

Pope Francis, the Spiritual Leader of the Global Catholic Christians, Laid to Eternal Rest at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome
Vatican City, April 26, 2025

After a solemn and emotionally moving funeral ceremony, Pope Francis was laid to rest today at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome. Amid prayers and mourning, hundreds of people paid their final respects.

During this spiritually rich and awe-inspiring funeral, around 150,000 people lined the streets of Rome to bid farewell to Pope Francis one last time. On the day before his death, Sunday, he had driven around St. Peter’s Square in his popemobile, greeting the faithful—what many believe was, unknowingly, his final farewell to them.

His funeral procession passed through the ancient ruins and historic landmarks of Rome, including the monument to fallen soldiers at Piazza Venezia, the Roman Forum, and the Colosseum—places where Pope Francis had only a week earlier delivered heartfelt messages calling for peace and condemning the “economy of indifference.”

Finally, the procession reached the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where his coffin was held up before the public for a final goodbye. Inside, it was paused for a moment in front of the Pauline Chapel, near the icon of “Mary Salus Populi Romani,” before being moved to the adjacent chapel for burial.

At 1:00 PM, the Rite of Burial of the Roman Pontiff began, presided over by the Cardinal Camerlengo. As per the decree of the Office for Liturgical Celebrations, selected dignitaries and members of the Pope’s family were present. The ceremony concluded at 1:30 PM.

Pope Francis now lies in eternal rest in the side aisle of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, between the Sforza Chapel and the Pauline Chapel. Beside him rests the sacred icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom he had always held deep devotion.