Pope Francis has decreed in his will that he be buried in a simple underground tomb in St Mary Major Basilica.
The will specified the late pontiff wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration” but with the inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
In his final testament, the pope expressed his wish to be buried in Rome, and not at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican like many previous pontiffs.
Alongside the will, the Vatican announced the pope died following a cerebral stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
The Vatican added that the pontiff had arranged for an unnamed benefactor to cover the costs of his burial.
Published on the Holy See’s website, here is the Pope’s will in full. It reads:
“In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.
“Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my burial.
“I have always entrusted my life and my priestly and episcopal ministry to the Mother of Our Lord, Mary Most Holy. Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest awaiting the day of resurrection in the Papal Basilica of St Mary Major.
“I wish that my last earthly journey conclude precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of each Apostolic journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for her docile and maternal care.
“I ask that my tomb be prepared in the niche of the side nave between the Pauline Chapel, Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani, and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as indicated in the enclosed attachment.
“The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.
“The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered by the sum of the benefactor that I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided appropriate instructions to Rolandas Makrickas (a Catholic cardinal) Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Chapter.
“May the Lord give the deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that has become present in the last part of my life I have offered to the Lord for peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples.”
Francis’s coffin will be moved from the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel, where he lived, to St Peter’s Basilica as early as Wednesday morning to allow the faithful to pay their respects.
No date has yet been set for the funeral.
Following his death, the Catholic Church has now entered a period called “sede vacante”, or “empty seat”, during which there is no pope sitting on the throne of St Peter.
Pope Francis, originally from Argentina and the first pope from Latin America, had led the 1.4 billion-member church since 2013.
Source: independent.co.uk
