Vatican City – Pope Francis, who passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88, left behind a final testament that encapsulates his lifelong commitment to humility and compassion.
In his will, dated June 29, 2022, the Pope requested a simple burial at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, a site he frequented for prayer before and after his apostolic journeys. He specified that his tomb be modest, without elaborate decoration, bearing only the inscription “Franciscus.”
Pope Francis’s final public appearance was during Easter Mass at St. Peter’s Square, where he called for peace in conflict zones, particularly Gaza. His death, caused by a stroke leading to irreversible heart failure, marked the end of a papacy characterized by advocacy for the marginalized and efforts to reform the Church.
