Pope Francis's will is published: "I wish to express my wishes regarding the place of my burial"
The Vatican has released Pope Francis’ will, in which he expressed his wish to be buried in a historic Marian sanctuary. The pontiff died on April 21 following a stroke.
Pope Francis's will was officially published by the Vatican on Monday, the day after his death. In the document, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, as he was born, details his wishes for his burial place, expressing his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his desire to be buried in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome.
Francis, the first Latin American pope, died at the age of 88 after ongoing health complications that worsened in February. According to the official medical report, he suffered a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible cardiovascular collapse.
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Wish to be buried in a Marian sanctuary
In the document, Francis wrote: “I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest in expectation of the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major.” The text, prepared in advance, reveals the pope’s desire to end his “final earthly journey” at the place where he began and concluded every Apostolic Journey.
The pontiff also specified the exact location for his tomb: the niche between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel. He requested a simple burial site, with no ornamentation, and the sole inscription: “Franciscus.”
Funeral expenses and final message
The will also outlines how the burial costs should be handled. Pope Francis ordered that the expenses be covered by a previously designated benefactor’s donation, already transferred to the Basilica. Monsignor Rolandas Makrickas, in his role as Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter, was entrusted with overseeing the arrangements.
In his closing message, the pope offered his final sufferings for peace in the world and fraternity among nations. “May the Lord grant the deserved reward to those who have loved me and who will continue to pray for me,” the document concludes.