Pope Francis left specific set of instructions for his burial as first images of headstone are released
Pope Francis' funeral took place on Saturday (26 April) and the first photos of his headstone have since been revealed.
The Vatican announced his passing on Monday 21 April as a result of a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure.
Aged 88, Pope Francis was said to have 'returned to the home of the Father' in a statement from Camerlengo Cardinal Kevin Ferrell.
After three days of his remains being laid in an open casket in St. Peter's Basilica for members of the Catholic community and the public to pay their respects, his coffin was carried across Rome to the The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he requested to be buried.
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The 266th pontiff was buried with a number of significant items, including a papal biography, known as a deed of the pious passing.
However, Pope Francis' funeral was not in line with Vatican tradition, as he requested a 'simple ceremony'.
While he will have be blessed with holy water, have had his head covered with a white cloth and buried with coins minted during his time as pope along with documents and a papal biography, he made his requests clear in his will.
Written in 2022, it said, as per Vatican news: “As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.”
Different to other popes, he asked that he have a 'simple' funeral, explaining: “The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.”
Most popes have lavish tombs with decorative sarcophagi and more inscribed than their name alone.
The first images of his tombstone have been released, showing the simple inscription of his name along with a single white rose.
While most popes were buried in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the 266th pontiff went a different way.
"Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary," he explained.
"For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major."
He went on: "I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care."
The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major is located in Rome's city centre, between the main train station and the iconic Coliseum.
To ensure that nobody got confused, he included an in-depth floor plan of the building so he could be buried exactly where he wanted.
Topics: Pope Francis, Religion, World News
Joshua Nair