Burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major

By Francesca Merlo

After a solemn but beautiful Requiem Mass, Pope Francis’ mortal remains made their way across the Eternal City to his final resting place: the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Over 150,000 people lined the streets of Rome to bid a final farewell to Pope Francis. The procession on Saturday travelled through the ancient ruins of Rome, past the monument of the fallen soldiers in Piazza Venezia. The late Pope was also driven past the ancient Roman Forum and the Colosseum, where his meditations for the Good Friday Way of the Cross had been read aloud just one week before.

The popemobile-turned-hearse drove up to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where his coffin was raised towards the crowd for a final goodbye. Inside the Basilica, the Pope’s coffin was held for a few moments before the entrance to the Pauline Chapel, so that he could face the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani before being taken to the burial niche in the side nave between the Sforza Chapel and the Pauline Chapel, which houses the Marian icon.

At 1:00 p.m., the Rite of the Burial of the Roman Pontiff began. The rite took place according to the prescriptions of the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis, presided over by Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Farrell, in the presence of those indicated in the relevant Notice from the Office for the Liturgical Celebrations and the family members of the deceased Pope. The liturgical ceremony concluded at 1:30 p.m.