Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, making him the eighth pontiff interred at the historic church.

His burial marks a significant departure from the tradition of papal interments at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Known for his humility and devotion to the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis had a special bond with Santa Maria Maggiore, often visiting the revered icon of Salus Populi Romani throughout his papacy. His tomb now rests near this sacred image, reflecting his pastoral heart and Marian devotion.

With his interment, Pope Francis joined seven other popes buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, including Pope Honorius III, Pope Nicholas IV, Pope St. Pius V, Pope Sixtus V, Pope Clement VIII, Pope Paul V, and Pope Clement IX.

His burial at the basilica is notable as it is the first papal interment outside the Vatican in more than a century.

Although St. Peter’s Basilica has been the customary resting place for modern popes, several popes in earlier centuries were buried elsewhere, reflecting the practices of their time.

Notably, Pope John Paul I was initially buried in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s, while popes like Pope Leo XIII and Pope Pius IX were interred in other chapels within Vatican grounds. However, it remains rare in the modern era for a pope to choose a site outside St. Peter’s Basilica entirely.

Pope Francis’s final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore stands as a testament to his lifelong call for a simpler, more accessible Church, rooted in mercy, service, and deep devotion to the Mother of God.

As of April 2025, eight popes have been buried at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome:
1. Pope Honorius III (1216–1227)
2. Pope Nicholas IV (1288–1292)
3. Pope St. Pius V (1566–1572)
4. Pope Sixtus V (1585–1590)
5. Pope Clement VIII (1592–1605)
6. Pope Paul V (1605–1621)
7. Pope Clement IX (1667–1669)
8. Pope Francis (2013–2025)