Pope Francis chose his place of burial in St. Mary Major Basilica, near an icon of the Madonna that he revered, because it reflects his “humble, simple and essential" life.

The Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, which Pope Francis chose as his final resting place, is a fifth-century church located in the center of Rome that already holds the tombs of seven popes.

This photograph shows the interior of Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, the late Pope’s final resting place, a day prior to the Pope’s funeral, in Rome on April 25, 2025. Agence France-Presse ...

St. Peter’s Basilica, including the Vatican Grottoes (the underground crypt where many popes are buried), currently houses the remains of approximately 91 popes of Rome.

3. The Basilica is home to the most important of all Marian icons, the Salus Populi Romani (Our Lady Saviour of the Roman People). 4. It is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.

People enter St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis lying in state, at the Vatican, Thursday, April 24, 2025. Photo by Emilio Morenatti/AP ...

The basilica closed from 6 a.m. until 7 a.m., the planned opening time and, according to French news agency AFP, thousands lined up early Thursday to pay their respects.

According to Vatican officials Wednesday, more than 20,000 mourners had already gathered in the early morning sun in St. Peter’s Square outside the basilica where they watched the procession of ...

Thousands of people have formed a line into St. Peter's Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, who is lying in state for three days ahead of his funeral on Saturday.

The body of Pope Francis is placed into St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, where he will lie in state for three days. (AP) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP ...

Catholic cardinals on Wednesday performed the ritual ceremony to transfer Pope Francis’ body from his home in the Vatican hotel to St. Peter’s Basilica for three days of public viewing.