Pope Francis was buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy. His mortal remains were placed in a burial niche in the side nave between the Sforza Chapel and the Pauline Chapel, which houses the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani, a devotion he held deeply
. This burial location is notable because it breaks with the usual tradition of popes being buried within Vatican City, beneath St. Peter's Basilica. Pope Francis is the first pope in over 120 years to be interred outside the Vatican, choosing the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a prominent and historic church in Rome, for his final resting place
. The burial took place on April 26, 2025, following a public funeral at the Vatican and a procession through the streets of Rome
. The basilica is one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome and holds special significance for Pope Francis, who frequently visited it during his time as cardinal and pope
