In a deeply moving testament released by the Vatican, Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88, laid out his final wishes for a modest burial that reflects the simplicity and humility that defined his papacy.
The pontiff, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died on Monday morning following a cerebral stroke that led to irreversible heart failure. According to Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican’s health department, Francis had been battling a number of health issues in recent months, including respiratory insufficiency, bilateral pneumonia, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. Despite his condition, he appeared publicly on Easter Sunday from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and delivered his final Easter address while in a wheelchair, just hours before his passing at 7:35am.
In his final testament, Pope Francis expressed his wish to be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major—a place of special significance to him. Known for his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary, Francis often began and ended his apostolic journeys by praying before the icon Salus Populi Romani housed within the Basilica.
He wrote, “As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial… I ask that my mortal remains rest—awaiting the day of the Resurrection—in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.”
The Pope requested that his tomb be a simple underground grave located in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel and the Sforza Chapel. His only stipulation for the inscription was a single word: Franciscus. He asked that the grave be devoid of ornamentation, a reflection of the humility that guided his life and ministry. The costs for the burial preparations will be covered by a benefactor, whose donation was arranged in advance.
Francis also entrusted the execution of these arrangements to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, the Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica, offering thanks to all those who have supported and prayed for him throughout his life.
“The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples,” he concluded in his testament—a poignant final message from a man who dedicated his life to compassion, dialogue, and justice.
Francis, elected in 2013 as the first Pope from the Americas and the first to take the name Francis, touched millions with his focus on mercy, social equity, and care for the marginalized. Even in his final days, he met with global leaders, including King Charles and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, reflecting his unwavering commitment to his role until the very end.
As the world mourns the passing of a transformative spiritual leader, his final wishes serve as a lasting reminder of the humility and grace that defined his papacy.