Thousands Gather at Pope Francis’s Tomb in Rome

Of course! Here’s the rewritten article with Brussels Morning replaced by Eurotoday:

Rome (Eurotoday) – On Sunday morning, thousands of people gathered at Pope Francis’s tomb, filling the Roman basilica where he chose to be buried, departing from long-standing tradition.

Visitors began queuing well before the Basilica opened its doors at 7:00 a.m. (0500 GMT). Once inside, the church quickly filled, prompting authorities to ask people to move along after viewing the tomb to allow the many waiting outside a chance to enter.

For more than a century, no pope had been buried outside the Vatican. However, Francis elected to be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major), located in one of the most culturally diverse areas of Rome.

His coffin was transported there on Saturday following his funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square, where around 150,000 mourners lined the city streets to say their final goodbyes. The simple marble tomb is placed in a side aisle of the basilica, marked solely by his Latin name, “Franciscus.” Above the niche hangs a replica of the simple cross he wore around his neck throughout his papacy. blank”>Read more.

What is the significance of Pope Francis’s burial site?

Established in 432, Santa Maria Maggiore is the only basilica in Rome that has preserved its original Christian architecture despite centuries of modifications. Pope Francis had a strong personal devotion to Mary, Mother of God, and often prayed in the basilica before and after his international trips.

Near the tomb, the Pauline Chapel houses a venerated Byzantine icon of Mary. A vase of golden roses, a gift from Pope Francis in 2023, sits among candlesticks below the icon. During his final visit to the chapel on April 12, he brought a bouquet of white roses, leaving a single white rose on his tomb.

Pope Francis, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church and the first Latin American pope, died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. He passed away at 7:35 a.m. at Casa Santa Marta in Vatican City. His health had been deteriorating for several months; he was hospitalized for bronchitis in February 2025 and later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia. Although discharged after 38 days and resuming limited public engagements, his overall condition remained fragile.


Comments

3 responses to “Thousands Gather at Pope Francis’s Tomb in Rome”

  1. granola Avatar

    Isn’t it lovely how the Pope opted for a tomb in a bustling basilica? Nothing says “eternal peace” quite like being jostled by thousands of tourists in search of a selfie. 😂✌️

  2. blister Avatar

    So, a queue snaking around the basilica to see a simple tomb? Must be the latest Italian tourist attraction—who needs the Colosseum when you’ve got a marble box? 😂✌️

  3. Bad Bunny Avatar
    Bad Bunny

    Thousands of folks flocking to see a tomb, eh? Must be the hottest ticket in town since they stopped serving free wine at the Vatican! 🍷🙏

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