by InTrieste
Pilgrims and the faithful will be able to visit the tomb of Pope Francis beginning Sunday, April 27, following his funeral at the Vatican on Saturday. In keeping with his personal devotion and final wishes, the late pontiff has been laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore—marking the first time in over 120 years that a pope has been buried outside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Santa Maria Maggiore, a majestic church in Rome’s Esquilino district near Termini Station, will open its doors daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the final entry at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Francis frequently visited the basilica before and after his travels, praying before the revered Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani—“Protectress of the Roman People”—located in the Pauline Chapel. The decision to be buried here reflects a deeply personal connection to the site and its symbolism.
His tomb, set discreetly in the basilica’s left nave between the Pauline and Sforza Chapels, is made of simple Ligurian marble, a nod to his family roots in northern Italy. Vincenzo Sivori, the pope’s maternal great-grandfather, emigrated from Liguria to Argentina in the 19th century.
The tomb bears the Latin inscription Franciscus and a modest reproduction of his papal pectoral cross. True to his legacy of humility, the design is without ornate embellishment.
A Shift in Tradition
Francis’ burial in Santa Maria Maggiore is a symbolic departure from recent tradition, where popes have typically been entombed beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. The last pontiff to be buried elsewhere was Pope Leo XIII, who died in 1903 and rests in the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
By choosing a different path, Pope Francis reinforces the hallmarks of his papacy—simplicity, accessibility, and devotion to the Virgin Mary.
Visiting the Tomb
Santa Maria Maggiore is easily accessible by public transportation. The basilica is a short walk from Rome’s Termini station, a hub served by Metro lines A and B/B1, along with regional trains FL4 through FL8. Bus lines including C3, 16, 70, 71, 75, 105, 117, 150F, 360, 514, 590, 649, and 714 also stop nearby. (Note: Line 117 does not run on holidays.)
As one of the four major papal basilicas and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore has long drawn pilgrims from across the world. Now, with the tomb of Francis among its sacred treasures, the basilica is poised to become an even more poignant site of prayer and reflection.
