AHis priest, then Cardinal, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, still called Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major), one of the four papal basilicas of Rome, during his regular visits to the Italian capital.
The Basilica of the fourth century with its distinctive bell tower is perched on one of the seven old hills of Rome in Esquilino, a district which is located between the Colosseum and the Termini station, which during the Roman Empire served as a ground for the slaves.
During a visit, Bergoglio had a narrow shave with a suspicious component.
But that did not deceive his experience. Years later, in March 2013, in the morning after he became Pope Francis, a name chosen in honor of François d’Assise, the Italian saint who gave up a luxury life to help the poor, he slipped from the Vatican to go to Santa Maria Maggiore.
Francis frequented the basilica, which is approximately two and a half miles from the city of the Vatican, more than 100 times during its 12 -year papacy, mainly to pray before and after trips abroad. On March 23, the day he left the hospital after an almost deadly fight of pneumonia, he stopped to deliver flowers on the way back to the Vatican. His last visit took place on April 12.
Saturday, Francis, who died Monday at the age of 88, will take the last trip to Santa Maria Maggiore for her burial. He will leave behind the presidents, the Prime Ministers and the Royals who will attend his funeral mass on the Place Saint-Pierre, and on arrival at the Basilica will receive a last sending of the poor and the needy from Rome.
Francis is the first pontiff in more than a century not to be buried with a large fanfare in the grottoes under the Saint-Pierre basilica.
Instead, its simple wooden coffin will be buried in a small niche which has so far been used to store chandelier holders.
Photography: Holy See Press Office Handout / EPA
Francis revealed for the first time that he had chosen his burial place during a discussion in April 2023 with Javier Martínez-Brocal, the Vatican correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC, which was published a year later in the longtime book El Sacesor (the successor).
“He told me that he had simplified his funeral because he thought that (papal funerals) had been overestimated,” said Martínez-Brocal. “He did not want to be shown lying on cushions, he wanted to look more like a pastor.”
Francis has been shown several areas of the vast basilica before settling on the niche of the left NEFT near the Paolina chapel, which houses the revered Byzantine icon of Marie, which he has always prayed before.
As requested in its last will, the tomb will not be decorated and will only be registered with its papal name in Latin: Franciscus.
“When he saw the niche, Francis replied:” It’s my place, I want to be buried here “,” said Martínez-Brocal. “It was essentially a closet.”
Francis told Martínez-Brocal that the basilica had made him love because of his “great devotion” to Mary, Mother of God. He also recalled his meeting with the alleged component to the journalist, a moment that Francis said: “I will never forget”.
“He was walking towards the basilica and someone went to him and said,” I have no essence, can you give me money? “” Said Martínez-Brocal. “He told him that he didn’t. The man then tried to sell him a flashy watch for Pallance, but he felt that it was something. Francis said:” Subsequently, I was told that if I had taken out my wallet, he would have hit me and stole him “.
The formerly neglected Esquilino is a populated multicultural district, where in recent years, many actors and directors have settled.
Even if Santa Maria Maggiore is less known than St Peter’s, she is just as impressive. Upon entering, visitors can look at the superb Caissment ceiling, supposed to be golden gold brought back from the Americas by Christopher Columbus. There is also a chapel designed by Michelangelo.
And Pope Francis is not the only famous person to be buried there. On the other side of the basilica is the tomb of the Italian sculptor and architect of the 17th century, Gian Lorenzo Bernini.
The basilica has become more and more popular with pilgrims and tourists in recent years, especially in the days that have followed the death of Francis.
“He radiated peace through all the pores of his being,” said Erika, a German doctor living in Norway, after leaving a message in a book tribute to Francis by the entrance to the basilica.
Inside, the priests are on site to give confessions and blessings of pilgrims. Standing in a queue while waiting for a priest to bless various holy memories bought during his trip to Rome, Stephanie Polco, a pilgrim to Mexico, said: “I can understand why Francis chose to be buried here. He is breathtaking.”
