Pope Francis Laid to Rest in a Historic Burial Outside the Vatican

Pope Francis has been laid to rest today in a profound moment of Church history, following his death on Easter Sunday at the age of 88, a passing that many faithful have called deeply symbolic, occurring on the most sacred day of the Christian calendar.

He becomes the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside Vatican City, honoring his personal wish for simplicity.

More than 250,000 people from various backgrounds gathered in St. Peter’s Square today, April 26, 2025, to bid farewell to Pope Francis during his funeral Mass.

The solemn service was presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the College of Cardinals, who was accompanied by around 250 Cardinals, Patriarchs, bishops, priests, and religious leaders, alongside a large congregation of lay people.

In his sermon, Cardinal Re highlighted the remarkable 12 years of Pope Francis’s leadership, emphasizing his deep connection to the faithful, his spontaneous approach, and his unwavering devotion to the Church.

 He underscored the pope's genuine love for the people, which remained evident throughout his papacy, even in his final days.

Following the Mass, Pope Francis's coffin
 crafted from plain wood and lined with zinc was carried in a solemn procession through the heart of Rome.The cortege passed historic landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum before arriving at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he chose to be buried.

Inside the basilica, the pontiff was laid to rest near the revered icon of the Virgin Mary, “Salus Populi Romani”, which he visited regularly during his papacy.

He also opted out of the traditional triple-casket burial used for previous popes, embracing a single, modest coffin to reflect his lifelong commitment to humility and service.

This departure from centuries of Vatican tradition marks the first time since Pope Leo XIII in 1903 that a pope has been buried outside the Vatican. The move is widely seen as a symbolic conclusion to a papacy defined by simplicity, compassion, and a focus on the pastoral mission of the Church.

As bells tolled across the Eternal City, the faithful mourned the passing of a spiritual leader who reshaped the papacy and celebrated the legacy he leaves behind.