The Vatican on Tuesday, April 22, revealed the last wishes of the late Pope Francis even as preparations for the Pope’s burial commenced.
Through a statement, Vatican News released the late Pope’s spiritual testament, dated 29 June 2022, giving indications for his burial in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
In his testament, Pope Francis requested that his tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.
“I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care,” noted the testament.
“I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan,” it further added.
For his burial costs, the pope instructed that it be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which he arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica, was bestowed this responsibility.
The release of the pope’s testament also coincided with the release of his pictures lying in state in the chapel of Saint Martha in the Vatican.
In the images, following the pope's request, the pope's body was placed inside a wooden casket instead of a bier, which was used for the funeral of the previous popes.
It was also Pope Francis's wish to be placed in a simple wooden casket with a zinc lining instead of the traditional three layers of coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak.
The head of the Catholic Church died on Easter Monday, April 21, after a prolonged illness during which he battled double pneumonia for over one month.
"Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Casa Santa Marta," Vatican News said in a tweet.
According to Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, the Pope passed away at 7:35am on Monday, April 21. Vatican News later confirmed that the cause of death was a stroke, followed by a coma and irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse.
Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, issued the official certification, and the Holy See Press Office released the report on the evening of Monday.
According to the medical report, the Pope had a prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes.
