The Vatican has announced that the tomb of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who passed away on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at age 88, will be open to visitors starting Sunday, April 27, at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
This follows a week of unprecedented mourning, with tens of thousands flocking to St. Peter’s Basilica, where his body lay in state from April 23 to 25, before his funeral on April 26, as reported by Reuters. Unlike most predecessors buried beneath St. Peter’s, Francis requested a simple tomb inscribed only with “Franciscus” at St. Mary Major, reflecting his humble legacy, per The New York Times.
Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died of a stroke leading to cardiocirculatory collapse, compounded by a five-week battle with double pneumonia, per Vatican health records. His 12-year papacy championed migrants, the poor, and climate action, though it drew conservative ire for progressive stances, including outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics. The Vatican extended St. Peter’s hours to accommodate 19,430 pilgrims in the first 8.5 hours of viewing, with crowds stretching across Rome, per BBC. His funeral, attended by global leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump, marked a somber farewell, with Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, overseeing rites.
The tomb’s opening aligns with Francis’ will, signed on Sts. Peter and Paul’s feast day, expressing hope in eternal life despite late-life suffering from hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory issues. St. Mary Major, a site Francis frequented, will host guided visits, with Vatican officials expecting millions annually. As the Sede Vacante period continues until a new pope is elected, Francis’ legacy endures, inspiring devotion and debate.