The final resting place of Pope Francis

Foregoing the traditional practice of being interred in the Vatican
Grottoes beneath St Peter’s, Pope Francis chose to be laid to
rest inside the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

BASILICA OF
SAINT MARY
MAJOR

Bell tower:
Tallest in
Rome at
75m

Largest
church in Rome
dedicated to veneration
of Blessed Virgin Mary

FLOOR
PLAN

Pauline Chapel: Home
to icon of Virgin Mary,
Salus Populi Romani
(above), said to have
been painted from life
by Saint Luke. Pope
Francis visited here
often

Sforza
Chapel

POPE’S TOMB IN
NICHE BETWEEN
TWO CHAPELS

Sacra Culla: Wooden
fragments believed to be
from crib of baby Jesus

Tomb of Bernini

Apse

Sistine
Chapel

CENTRAL NAVE

Entrance

Baptistry

10m
30ft

2km
1.2 miles

River
Tiber

Colosseum

Vatican
City

Basilica
of Saint
Mary
Major

ROME

Sources: Today (NBC), The Catholic Network, Papal Basilica
of Saint Mary Major. Pictures: Apple Maps, Creative Commons
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