By Oluwatosin Maliki
In a recent interview, Pope Francis disclosed his preferred burial location, selecting a basilica in Rome, as opposed to his predecessors who found their final resting place in St Peter’s Basilica.
On Wednesday, the pontiff, approaching his 87th birthday, conveyed to Mexican broadcaster Televisa’s N+ streaming service, “The place is already prepared. I want to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore.”
The pontiff further disclosed his plans to visit Belgium in 2024, including his native Argentina and Polynesia.
His decision implies that he would become the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican for more than 100 years.
Quest Times further reports that the last Pope to avoid a tomb in St Peter’s was Leo XIII, who died in 1903. His remains lie in the basilica of St John the Lateran in Rome.
According to Pope Francis, he feels a “special connection” to Santa Maria Maggiore, which is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome.
It was also learned that even before he was elected as Pope, he would often go there on Sunday, while visiting Rome and since his election in 2013, he prays there before and after taking a trip; he has also prayed there after undergoing surgery.
According to the Vatican News official media outlet, seven popes have previously been laid to rest in the basilica.
In recent years, the pontiff has suffered from increasing health issues, as a result, he was forced to cancel a visit to COP28 climate talks in Dubai due to bronchitis.
He appeared much better during the interview on Tuesday, paying tribute to his predecessor Benedict XVI for having had “the courage” to step down when he was facing health challenges.
In 2023, the German pontiff became the first pope since the Middle Ages to resign from office.
Benedict passed away on December 31, 2022, and after a funeral in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican led by Francis, his body was buried in the tomb under the church.
It was also the same tomb that held former pope John Paul II’s body before it was moved for his beatification in 2011.
Conclusively, Francis expressed a willingness to emulate Benedict if he could not fulfill his responsibilities, but emphasized that resigning should not become a regular practice for popes.