Pope Francis's Simple Funeral Plans at St. Mary Major Basilica

Pope Francis's Modest Lifestyle

• 💡 Pope Francis chose to live a modest life at a Vatican guest house, largely avoiding the traditional trappings of the papacy.
• 🎯 He rarely visited the papal vacation retreat, opting instead for a simpler existence.

Funeral and Burial Plans

• 📌 Pope Francis revealed in 2023 that he will be buried in a simple tomb in the wall of the Borgaz Chapel at St. Mary Major Basilica, near an ancient icon of Mary and the Christ child.
• 📍 He visited this chapel over 150 times, often to pray for safe travels, expressing a sense of closeness and being at home there.
• 📜 A Vatican official stated Francis desired a funeral as a "shepherd and disciple of Christ," not a "powerful man of this world."

Revised Funeral Rights

• 🕯️ In 2024, the Pope codified his wishes with a revision of funeral rights, a year after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's burial.
• ⚱️ Unlike Benedict XVI and John Paul II, Francis will be buried in a single wooden coffin lined with zinc.
• 🪦 He will not have his remains embalmed and displayed on an elevated platform; instead, he will be in the coffin with the lid removed.

Legacy of Simplicity

• ✨ The Pope's choice of name, Francis, signifies a priority for the poor and a commitment to living a simple lifestyle, embodying St. Francis's love of poverty.
• 🌟 This legacy and approach are expected to guide the days ahead as Pope Francis is laid to rest.