Pope Francis’ will be published: he asked for a simple tomb, without decorations, in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Mising Atque Eligando in the name of the Holy Trinity. Amen.
Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in eternal life, I wish to express my testamentary will only as regards the place of my burial.
My life and the priestly and episcopal ministry I have always entrusted to the mother of our Lord, Mary Most Holy.
Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains will rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
I want my last earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went to prayer at the beginning and at the end of each apostolic journey to confidently entrust my intentions to the immaculate mother and thank her for the docile and maternal care.
I ask that my tomb is prepared in the niculum of the lateral nave between the Paolina chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as indicated in the attached enclosure.
The sepulcher must be in the earth; Simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus.
The expenses for the preparation of my burial will be covered with the sum of the benefactor that I arranged, to be transferred to the papal basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have given appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, extraordinary commissioner of the Liberian chapter.
The Lord gives the deserved reward to those who loved me and will continue to pray for me. The suffering that took place in the last part of my life I offered it to the Lord for peace in the world and the brotherhood between peoples.
