Pope Francis in Santa Marta: Farewell and his last will

Pope Francis in Santa Marta: Farewell and his last will

Basilika Santa Maria Maggiore, 00185 Rom, Italien - On April 22, 2025, the first pictures of Pope Francis were published in the open coffin, just one day after his death on Easter Monday. The Pontifex died in its residence Santa Marta at the age of 88. The body is laid out in the chapel of its residence, dressed in his hands with a purple measuring robe, a white miter and a rosary. Relatives of the curia, cardinals and employees of the Vatican can say goodbye to the open coffin, which stands in front of an altar where Francis regularly celebrated the early mass.

Over the course of the week, the body will be transferred to St. Peter's Basilica, where believers also have the opportunity to say goodbye. The exact date for the burial is to be determined by a college of cardinals, whereby Saturday is the possible date in the room. State guests such as US President Donald Trump are expected for the funeral service.

The last wish of the Pope

Pope Francis had recorded a single crucial wish in his will: his remains are to rest in the basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. For him, this church was a special place in which he often prayed. He asked for a simple grave without special jewelry, with the inscription "Franciscus".

in the basilica, which already houses the graves of six popes, most recently by Clemens IX. In 1669, he will now find his last rest. It is a tradition that popes are usually buried in St. Peter's Basilica or in the Vatican grottos. This decision by Francis emphasizes his desire for simplicity in a strong contrast to the usual magnificent papal burial.

a pontiff with a special mission

In his will, Francis also mentions that he sacrificed his suffering in the last lifetime for world peace and fraternity among the peoples. This attitude reflects the commitment with which he acted at the head of the Catholic Church since his election in 2013.

Francis was the first Jesuit and South American to be elected to the Papal Office. He has always campaigned for an open and dialog -oriented church and put the needs of the people at the center of his message. This orientation is in the tradition of papacy, which has experienced significant reforms and developments over the centuries, starting with the beginnings in late antiquity to the present, as the [wikipedia]

The history of the papacy goes back to the time of Jesus and connects the popes with the successor of the apostle Simon Peter. This line of successor has always given the papacy a central role within the Catholic Church, and the actions of Francis will certainly leave a lasting influence on the world church.