In death as in life, Pope Francis chose simplicity: a modest casket, carried before the faithful at St. Peter’s Basilica in a final act of humility. Photo Credit : Photo: Presidência da República/Palácio do Planalto via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
The late Pope chose to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, honoring his lifelong devotion to Mary and his commitment to humility and simplicity.
When the news broke that Pope Francis had passed from this world into eternity, a hush seemed to fall over the global village he had so often championed. It was as if the earth itself paused, bowing its head in mourning for a man who had carried not only the weight of the Catholic Church but also the fragile hopes of the world’s poor, forgotten, and wounded.
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he rose from modest beginnings—the son of an Italian immigrant railway worker—to the highest office in Catholicism. Yet even as pontiff, he never shed the simple habits of a parish priest. Francis chose not the papal palace but a modest guesthouse to call home. He rode in a Ford Focus instead of a limousine. His hands smelled of ink from signing letters himself, and his heart bore the bruises of the world’s sufferings.
His papacy, spanning 12 transformative years, was marked by an urgent plea for mercy—mercy for the earth, mercy for the migrant, mercy for the sinner. With his groundbreaking encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti, he invited a fractured world to dream again of brotherhood, justice, and the healing of creation.
Francis’ death closed a chapter of radical tenderness in a Church and a world often gripped by division. His final days, marked by quiet prayer and physical frailty, mirrored his lifelong message: humility, until the very end.
The Last Farewell
Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, following a stroke and cardiac arrest at Domus Sanctae Marthae inside Vatican City. His health had been in steady decline due to complications from pneumonia, bronchiectasis, hypertension, and diabetes.
The Vatican announced that his body would lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica, where over 250,000 faithful came to pay their respects from April 23 to 25. Long lines stretched across the square, a testament to the profound connection he had forged with people around the world.
True to his character, Francis requested a funeral marked by simplicity and humility.
Funeral Mass
The funeral Mass took place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals. Over 250,000 mourners, alongside delegations from more than 130 countries, gathered under a solemn Roman sky.
Among the world leaders and dignitaries in attendance were:
- U.S. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, seated prominently at the front, representing the United States.
- Former U.S. President Joe Biden, attending privately as a devout Catholic.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, representing the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms.
Prince William, Prince of Wales, attending on behalf of King Charles III and the British monarchy. - Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, representing the pontiff’s adopted homeland.
- French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, longtime interlocutors on matters of secularism and solidarity with the Church.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who also held a private meeting with President Trump during the gathering.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, leading the delegation from the world’s largest Catholic nation.
- Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, representing Spain’s historic Catholic roots.
- Argentine President Javier Milei, honoring Pope Francis as Argentina’s most beloved son.
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, paying tribute on behalf of Germany.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, representing the European Union.
- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, reflecting the late pontiff’s profound influence on global diplomacy and human rights.
- Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, reaffirming Christian unity across East and West.
- Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb of Al-Azhar University, symbolizing ongoing efforts in Muslim-Christian interfaith dialogue.
- President Andrzej Duda of Poland, representing one of Europe’s most Catholic nations.
- Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., attending from Asia’s largest Catholic country.
- King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, representing the Belgian monarchy.
- Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, attending as a symbol of broader European solidarity.
- Acting President Han Jin-seok of South Korea, representing a nation where Catholicism has steadily grown.
Alongside the political and religious leaders were tens of thousands of everyday faithful—pilgrims, priests, nuns, and families—who filled the square and the streets beyond, united by a shared grief and a common love for their “people’s pope.”
The Mass was celebrated in Latin, with prayers and Scripture readings in Italian, Spanish, Arabic, and English, reflecting Francis’ global ministry. Incense floated through the square as ancient hymns filled the air, and the bells of St. Peter’s tolled solemnly.
Symbols of the Service
As tradition dictates, several symbolic elements were placed within Pope Francis’ casket:
A bag of twelve silver coins, symbolizing each year of his papacy.
His papal pallium, signifying his role as Bishop of Rome.
A Rogito, a formal document summarizing his life and ministry.
His rosary, entwined in his hands, a companion throughout his life.
The Fisherman’s Ring, representing papal authority, had been ceremonially broken, marking the end of his papal reign.
Burial
In accordance with his wishes for simplicity, Pope Francis was laid to rest at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore—the Roman church he often visited before and after his apostolic journeys.
His tomb bears a humble inscription:
Franciscus, Peccator et Servus (“Francis, Sinner and Servant”).
Choosing Santa Maria Maggiore over the ornate papal crypts of St. Peter’s Basilica reflected his enduring desire to be among the people.
The Seeds of Mercy Will Grow
As the final hymn rose and the bells of St. Peter’s tolled across Rome, the world listened not only with its ears, but with its heart — hearing the quiet echo of Francis’ final prayer.
In his testament, read aloud during the funeral Mass, Pope Francis entrusted his soul to the mercy of God, offered the sufferings of his final years for the cause of peace and fraternity, and expressed gratitude for the gifts of life, family, and faith. In his closing words, he asked simply:
“Pray for me.”
It was a farewell marked not by grandeur, but by humility — the last gesture of a shepherd who chose the poor over privilege, mercy over judgment, and service over power.
