Pope Francis ordered that upon his death he would be buried in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of St. Mary Major). This basilica was very dear to him. Francis, however, will not be the ...

Various factors are at play when it comes to the decision of a burial place. The Salus Populi Romani icon is displayed in the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. (photo: Daniel Ibañez/CNA / EWTN ...

Pope Francis will be laid to rest April 26 at Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, in keeping with his final wishes. The ...

St. Peter’s Basilica, including the Vatican Grottoes, houses the remains of approximately 90 of Rome’s popes. The rest are scattered throughout other places ...

He is buried in the same chapel as his predecessor, Clement VIII. Statue of Pope Clement IX at his tomb in Santa Maria Maggiore. Credit: Richard Mortel/Flickr Clement IX, born Giulio Rospigliosi ...

Pope Francis is not the only Pope to be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. But he would be the first Pope in 350 ...

Throughout history, there’s been so much drama at the top of the Catholic Church, it’s no wonder the movie Conclave was a ...

Ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral, a centuries-old security force stands watch: the Swiss Guard. Known for their vivid uniforms and storied legacy, these elite soldiers are more than ceremonial figures.

Pope Francis will be the first Pontiff to die within the Vatican walls and be immediately buried at Santa Maria ... as did his successors Clement VIII (pontificate between 1592 and 1605), Paul ...

Many of the traditions that will dictate Pope Francis’s funeral date back more than 2,000 years. They are compiled in a tome more than 400-pages long called the “Ordo exsequiarum Romani pontificis” - ...

After Pope Francis' funeral, the Catholic Church shifts focus to the conclave, where cardinals will elect the next pope. This ...