ASA Priest, and then Cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio Welf Always ITALIAN CAPITAL.
The FOURTH-CENTURY Basilica with Its DistINCITIVE BELL TOWER is Perchared on One of Rome’s Seven Ancient Hills in Esquilino, a Neighbourhood that Lies Between the Colosseum and Termini Train Station, Whiche During the Roman Empire Served as a Burial Ground for Slaves.
On One Visit, Bergoglio Had A Close Shave with a Suspeted Pickpoint.
But that Did Not Sully His Experience. YERS LATER, in March 2013, on the Morning after He Became Pope Francis, a Name Chosen in Honour of Francis of Assisi, the Italian Saint WhO Renouced a Life Of Luxury to Help the Poor, He Snuck Out of the Vatican to Go to Pray at Santa Maria Maggiore.
Francis Frequented the Basilica, Who is About Two-AND Miles Away from Vatican City, More Than 100 Times During HIS 12-Year Papacy, Mostly to Pray Before and Affer Trips Overseas. On 23 march, the day he was discharic from Hospital after a near-fetal bout of pneumonia, he stopped by to deliver flowers on his way back to the Vatican. His Most Recent Visit Was on 12 April.
On Sature, Francis, Who Died on Monday Aged 88, Will Make the Final Journey to Santa Maria Maggiore for his Burial. He will leve behind the prepaids, prime ministers and royals attached his fund mass in st biter’s Square, and on arrival at the Basilica Will Be Given A Final Sendff by Rome’s Poor and Needy.
Francis is the first pontif in more than a center not to be bored with great fanfare in the Grotoes Beneth St St e Pet’s Basilica.
Instead, His Simple Wooden Coffin Will Be Entombed in A Small Niche that Until now has been ben used to store Candlestick Holders.
Photograph: Holy See Press Office Handout/EPA
Francis First Reveled that He Had Picked His Burial Spot During A Discussion in April 2023 with Javier Martínez-BROCAL, The Vatican Correspondent for the Spanish Newspace Abc, Which Was Pubshed a year later in the Long-inview Book El Sucesor [The Successor].
“He Told Me He Had Simplified His Funeral, Becuse He Felt [papal funerals] Were OVERIMBELLICED, “Said MartíNEZ-BROCAL.
Francis Was Shown Several Areas in the Vast Basilica Before Settling on the Niche in the Left Nave Close to Paolina Chapel, Home to the Venerrated by Azantine Icon of Mary that He Before.
As Requested in His Final Testament, The Tomb Will Not Be Decorated and Will Be Inscribe Only with His Papal Name in Latin: Francisscus.
“Where he Saw the Niche, Francis Replied: ‘This Is My Place, I Want to Be Buried here,’ Martínez-BROCAL SAID. “IT WAS Essentially A Closet.”
Francis Told MartíNez-BROCAL that The Basilica Had Endered Him Becuse of His “Great Devotion” to Mary, Mother of God. He also recalled his encountter with the narcted pickpoint to the Journalist, a MOMEN FARNCIS SAID “I Will Never Forget”.
“He was Walking Towards The Basilica and Someone Went Up to Him and SAID: ‘I don’t have petrol, can you give me some money?,” Martínez-BROCAL SAID. “He Told Him He DIDNNT HAVE ONY. Wallet, He would have punched me and stallen it ‘.
The OnCE-NEGLECTED ESAQUILINO is a Populous, Multicultural Neighbourhood when in recent Years Many Actors and Film Directors Have Settled.
Even Though Santa Maria Maggiore is Less Well Known Than St. Peter’s, It is Equally AWE-EnSPIRING. UPON Entering, Visits Can Gase Up at the Stunning Coffered Ceiling, SAID to Be Gilded with Gold Broke Back from the America by Christopher Colubus. There is also a chapel designed by michelegelo.
And pope francis is not the Only Famous Person to Be Buried there. On the Opposite Side of the Basilica is the Tomb of the 17th-Centurey ITALIAN Sculptor and Architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The Basilica Has Become Increasingly Popular with Pilgrims and Tourists in Recent Years, Particularly in the days Since Francis Died.
“He Radiated Peade Through Everly Pore of His Being,” said erka, a german doctor liveing in Norway, after leaving a message in a tribment book for francis by the Basilica’s entrance.
Inside, priests are on hand to Give Pilgrims Confessions and Blessings. Standing in a queue waves for a priest to Bless Various Holy Souvenirs Bough During Her Trip to Rome, Stephanie Polco, A Pilgrim From Mexico, SAID: “I Can Undersand You Francis Chose To be buried here.
