Pope Francis to Break Centuries-Old Burial Tradition Upon His Passing

TDT | Manama

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As Pope Francis remains hospitalized with double pneumonia, speculation has grown over his final resting place. In a historic departure from tradition, the Pope has already arranged for his burial to take place at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, rather than in the Vatican grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, where most of his predecessors rest.

The 87-year-old pontiff, known for his humble and reformist approach, disclosed at the end of 2023 that he had chosen the Santa Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome’s Esquilino neighborhood for his tomb. This church, one of the four major papal basilicas, has not served as the final resting place for a pope in over 350 years. The last pope to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669.

A further break from tradition is evident in the new burial rites issued last year. Unlike his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who was laid to rest in three nested coffins—including one made of lead—Francis will be interred in a single zinc-lined wooden casket.

A Long-Standing Tradition

Since the completion of St. Peter’s Basilica in 1626, 24 out of 31 popes have been buried in its grottoes. Pope Benedict XVI was interred in a crypt beneath the basilica, in the same tomb that previously held Pope John Paul II before his beatification in 2011.

Over the years, burial practices for popes have evolved. Pope John XXIII, who died in 1963, was originally buried beneath St. Peter’s Basilica but was later moved in 2001 to a glass sarcophagus under the altar of St. Jerome, where his body remains on display. Pope Francis’s decision marks one of the most significant changes to papal funerary customs in recent history.

A Special Connection to Santa Maria Maggiore

Pope Francis has expressed a deep personal connection to Santa Maria Maggiore, making more than 100 visits to the fifth-century church. He frequently prays before the sacred image of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, often doing so before and after international trips.

Despite his burial preference, Pope Francis is still expected to lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica before his funeral, according to the revised ‘Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis’ (Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff) introduced last year. Unlike previous popes, he will rest in his coffin during this period, rather than on a catafalque, and the coffin will remain open until the night before his funeral.

The Pope’s Current Health Crisis

Concerns over Pope Francis’s health have intensified following his hospitalization on February 14. Vatican officials confirmed that he is suffering from pneumonia, which is further complicated by asthmatic bronchitis. The condition is particularly concerning given that the Pope had part of one of his lungs removed when he was 21.

Reports indicate that Francis has told close associates that he ‘might not make it this time,’ further fueling speculation that he is preparing for the possibility of his passing. The Vatican has continued to provide updates on his condition, stating that while his situation remains complex, he is receiving cortisone antibiotic treatment and close medical supervision.

As the world watches and prays for his recovery, Pope Francis’s decision to break with centuries-old burial traditions underscores his commitment to humility and personal devotion—hallmarks of his papacy.