As hundreds of Catholic faithful visit the late Pope Francis’s final resting place at the 16th-century-old Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major), the tomb is simple and immaculately constructed with marble, with the late pope’s pectoral cross on the soft-lit wall.
On it, as it was in his spiritual testament, is an inscription of only the word ‘Franciscus’. A single white rose lies on top of the tomb.
Before it was sealed, the 266th pope’s coffin was placed with several meaningful items according to the papal Catholic tradition.
Mitre and crozier
A mitre (a liturgical headdress) and crozier (a pastoral staff) were laid beside him inside a coffin. The mitre symbolises his papal authority in the Catholic Church, while the crozier was for his pastoral role in the Church.
12 coins
A bag of 12 Vatican coins, one minted for every year of his papal rule, was placed inside the coffin to signify his years. The coins have different themes every year, with the reigning pope on one side of the coin.
Rogito or Deed
This is an official document that details the legacy of the late Pope during his sovereignty. The scroll is a historical letter to the pope and narrates his birth name, papal name, his personality, his cause, his achievements in the Catholic Church, among other things he did in his life and reign. This is the same document that was read during his funeral service.
Broken fisherman’s ring
The pope was buried with his ring that portrays the first pope, Saint Peter, on a boat casting a net. This is the same ring that the Camerlengo placed on his finger when he began his papacy, as per tradition. The Camerlengo also removes it from his finger and breaks it following the pope’s death to indicate the end of his rule.
Rosary
The late pope was also buried with a Catholic rosary as a symbolic professing of his faith that he practiced throughout his life.
Pope Francis died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 following a cerebral stroke that brought a coma and heart failure.
He is fondly remembered for advocating for a dignified life for the poor and his humility.