Pope Francis Breaks Tradition, Requests Burial at St. Mary Major

In a heartfelt departure from tradition, Pope Francis requested to be laid to rest at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, rather than the Vatican Grottoes where many of his predecessors lie, on April 26. His decision reflects a profound, lifelong devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas revealed in an interview with NPR that Pope Francis' burial wish came after what he described as "divine intervention."

According to Makrickas, the Virgin Mary appeared to the pope and asked him to be buried in her basilica. "He told me: 'I am so happy that Mary didn't forget me,'" Makrickas recalled, sharing how Francis asked him personally to arrange for his final resting place at St. Mary Major.

Pope Francis visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major 126 times during his papacy, praying before the revered Marian icon Salus Populi Romani — an ancient image of the Virgin Mary and Child believed by tradition to have been painted by St. Luke.

The icon accompanied him in moments of gratitude, suffering, and important missions, including his recovery from illness and each apostolic journey abroad. At his funeral, the image was placed beside his coffin, sealing his deep bond with Mary in his final moments.

Historically, the Salus Populi Romani has been invoked for protection over Rome, notably during a plague in 590 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Pope Francis famously prayed before the icon in an empty St. Peter’s Square, pleading for the Virgin’s intercession during the global crisis.

Though rare today, burial at St. Mary Major has historic precedent. Seven popes, including St. Pius V and Pope Sixtus V, are buried there, dating back to times when St. Peter’s Basilica was still being constructed.

By choosing St. Mary Major, Pope Francis entrusted his final resting place to the maternal embrace of Mary—a powerful testament to a life shaped by her protection, guidance, and tender love.