News from Italy
The tomb of Pope Francis: Simple and modest
The tomb of Pope Francis reflects the essential connections of his life with the concise and straightforward style that characterised Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s entire pontificate: the noun without an adjective, Franciscus; the enlarged reproduction of the pectoral cross; Lavagna, a tombstone brought from Liguria, testifying to his Italian origins; near the altar of Saint Francis of Assisi…
As requested in his will by Pope Francis: a simple and small tomb…
Pope Francis’s tomb is located in the side nave of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. It was created in the burial niche between the Pauline Chapel, which houses the Marian icon of the Salus Populi Romani, and the Sforza Chapel, near the Altar of Saint Francis of Assisi. As Francis wanted…
The tomb of Pope Francis, a testament to his humble and essential style, is a simple yet profound structure. Crafted from Ligurian marble, the tombstone bears a single inscription: Franciscus. The only other decorative element is the enlarged reproduction of the pectoral cross that the Pontiff used to wear, a profound symbol of his ministry.
A tribute to the roots of the Italian family
Particularly significant is the use of Lavagna stone in Liguria for the paving of the tomb, chosen as a tribute to the land of origin of the Pontiff’s grandparents. The interior of the burial niche has been finished in an essential style, with walls plastered in ivory tones, in harmony with the stone materials. The burial slab rises 12 centimetres above the floor level, remaining visually discreet but easily recognisable.
A historical memory
Pope Francis’s tomb is a testament to the rich history of the Catholic Church. It reminds us of the many pontiffs who have come before, each leaving their mark on the Church and the world.
The front of the tomb will be kept intact. It is an ancient inscription dating back to 1615, the era of Pope Paul V Borghese, commemorating the construction of the Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani. The text recalls the icon’s origin attributed to Saint Luke and invites the perpetual celebration of rites in honour of the Most Holy Mary.
Where is the tomb of Pope Francis
The tomb of Pope Francis is not a distant monument but a part of the living history of the Church. It is located inside the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, in the side nave, between two historic chapels and next to one of the altars dedicated to the saint of Assisi, a figure very dear to Pope Francis since the beginning of his pontificate.