Public mourners gather to pay their respects at the historic Roman church chosen by Pope Francis for his burial.
**Pope Francis Laid to Rest: A Final Tribute at Santa Maria Maggiore**
**Pope Francis Laid to Rest: A Final Tribute at Santa Maria Maggiore**
Images of the late pontiff's tomb reveal a poignant farewell to a beloved leader.
Pope Francis's final resting place has been revealed, as images of his tomb at the Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome circulate. A solitary white rose rests atop the stone slab engraved with the name he bore throughout his papacy, illuminated softly by a singular focus of light. Following a private interment, the late pope was laid to rest on Saturday, after a significant public funeral held at the Vatican. From Sunday morning onward, thousands of attendees have visited the basilica to honor the memory of the 88-year-old pontiff, who passed away the previous week.
Visitors expressing their emotions reflected on the pope's impactful legacy. Rosario Correale described the occasion as "very emotional," expressing gratitude for the influence Francis had on his life. Polish pilgrim Maria Brzezinska remarked on how the simple resting place aligned with the pope’s nature and humility. Deeply devoted to the Virgin Mary, the basilica was a personal favorite of Francis, who chose it as his burial site. The church, established in the 4th Century, inspired the pope’s wishes articulated in 2022 to be interred there.
Pope Francis’s funeral, which drew dignitaries and heads of state from all over the world, became a historic moment filled with solemn hymns and the echo of a helicopter. An emotional homily delivered by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spotlighted the pontiff’s enduring call for unity: "build bridges, not walls." The burial procession saw an estimated 140,000 mourners gathered in the streets, waving and applauding as Francis's coffin moved past iconic Roman landmarks.
As memorial services wind down, speculation about the next papal conclave has begun, with the potential for it to be the most significant in recent memory. Preparations are under way for the selection of his successor, set to commence soon, as the Church mourns but also looks toward the future.
Visitors expressing their emotions reflected on the pope's impactful legacy. Rosario Correale described the occasion as "very emotional," expressing gratitude for the influence Francis had on his life. Polish pilgrim Maria Brzezinska remarked on how the simple resting place aligned with the pope’s nature and humility. Deeply devoted to the Virgin Mary, the basilica was a personal favorite of Francis, who chose it as his burial site. The church, established in the 4th Century, inspired the pope’s wishes articulated in 2022 to be interred there.
Pope Francis’s funeral, which drew dignitaries and heads of state from all over the world, became a historic moment filled with solemn hymns and the echo of a helicopter. An emotional homily delivered by 91-year-old Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re spotlighted the pontiff’s enduring call for unity: "build bridges, not walls." The burial procession saw an estimated 140,000 mourners gathered in the streets, waving and applauding as Francis's coffin moved past iconic Roman landmarks.
As memorial services wind down, speculation about the next papal conclave has begun, with the potential for it to be the most significant in recent memory. Preparations are under way for the selection of his successor, set to commence soon, as the Church mourns but also looks toward the future.
