The Vatican has released the details of Pope Francis’ final testament following his death on April 21 at the age of 88. The pontiff passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time due to a cerebral stroke, compounded by previous health issues including pneumonia, hypertension, and diabetes.
In a departure from centuries of papal tradition, Pope Francis had outlined his desire for a modest funeral and burial. He requested to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration,” with only his papal name in Latin, “Franciscus,” inscribed. He chose the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome as his final resting place, a site not used for papal burials since the 17th century.
The Vatican has announced that Pope Francis’ funeral will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Public viewing of his body will begin on Wednesday in St. Peter’s Basilica. The nine-day mourning period, known as Novendiale, has commenced.
Global leaders, including President Emmanuel Macron of France and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, are expected to attend the funeral. Several countries, such as Poland, have declared national days of mourning in honor of the late pontiff.
Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope, was renowned for his humility, advocacy for the marginalized, and efforts to address climate change and economic inequality. His progressive views and outreach to diverse communities left a significant impact worldwide.
The College of Cardinals has convened to plan the conclave for electing Pope Francis’ successor, expected to begin between May 5 and 11. In the interim, all beatifications have been suspended, and the papal apartment has been sealed, marking the sede vacante period.
Pope Francis’ final wishes reflect his lifelong commitment to humility and service, setting a precedent for future papal funerals.
