By Our Reporter
Pope Francis was laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, where his coffin was buried in an underground tomb.
He is the first Pope not to be buried at the Vatican in 100 years.
The late pontiff’s choice reflects his devotion to a particular icon of the Virgin Mary, which is located at the fifth-century church.
The coffin arrived at the basilica on Saturday after a procession through the Italian capital, with crowds gathering to pay their respects and clapping as the casket drove past.
What Is Santa Maria Maggiore?
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which is also known as Saint Mary Major, is a fifth-century church situated in the centre of Rome that already holds the tombs of seven popes.
It is one of four papal basilicas in Rome.
Santa Maria Maggiore also holds the remains of several other renowned figures, such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the architect and sculptor who designed St Peter’s Square and its surrounding columns.
The central nave is lined by 40 ionic columns and contains intricate mosaics, and the basilica holds some of the Catholic church’s most important relics.
The late Pope had a particular affinity for the site, as he would pray there before leaving on trips abroad and upon returning to Rome.
The last pope to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669. The last pontiff to ask to be buried outside of the Vatican was Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903.
Why Is Pope Not Buried In Vatican?
Pope Francis is the first pontiff in more than a century not to be buried at St Peter’s Basilica after making a personal choice to break with tradition.
The small tomb chosen by the Pope inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was previously used to store candlestick holders.
In 2023, he left instructions to be buried in a simple underground tomb at the church.
The Pope told a journalist that he made the choice because of his “great devotion” to the Virgin Mary.
The late Pope chose a simple zinc-lined wooden coffin for his burial, which was displayed as his body lay in state for three days at St Peter’s Basilica.
Each pope is traditionally buried in three coffins of cypress, lead and elm or oak, with each layer placed inside the other.
The lead is intended to preserve the pontiff’s remains, and is engraved with their name and pontificate. The cypress coffin, which is an ordinary wood, symbolises the individual’s humility. The final outer coffin, which typically consists of a rare and valuable wood such as oak or elm, symbolises dignity and strength.
However, Pope Francis opted to bypass the tradition and chose a simple coffin lined with zinc instead, which helps to preserve the integrity of the coffin and body.
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