Presidents of multiple nations, royal family members, and mourners bid farewell to Pope Francis on the 26th in a solemn funeral. The Vatican stated that after a funeral Mass held at St. Peter's Square, the Pope was laid to rest at his favorite Roman church, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
The Italian Cardinal Rey, who presided over the Mass, called in his speech for the continuation of Pope Francis' care for immigrants, the oppressed, and the ecological environment.
After the funeral, the Pope's coffin was placed on his open-top car amidst the tolling of funeral bells at St. Peter's Basilica, and the car then made its way through the center of Rome to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.
Francis' funeral was held at 1 PM Rome time (7 PM Malaysia time) on the 26th inside the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, lasting 30 minutes, with only the most relevant individuals in attendance.
Francis passed away on the 21st at the age of 88.
During his 12 years as Pope, Francis relinquished most of the pomp and privileges associated with the papacy and requested to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, rather than the traditional burial place for Popes, the underground crypt of St. Peter's Basilica, making him the first Pope in over a century not to be buried at the Vatican.
Francis' marble tombstone is simply inscribed with his name in Latin, Franciscus.
Located in the center of Rome, the Basilica of Saint Mary Major has been the resting place for 7 Popes. The last Pope to be buried there was Clement IX, who passed away in 1669.
The Basilica of Saint Mary Major is the first church dedicated to Mary, built in the 4th century, and is one of the four major basilicas of Rome.