Tens Of Thousands Of People Pray At Pope Francis' Grave, Amazed By Simplicity

Pope Francis' body was brought to the Basilica of Papal Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major). (Wikimedia Commons/Dipartimento della Protezione Civile)

JAKARTA - Tens of thousands of people flocked past Pope Francis' grave on Sunday, crowding the Roman Basilica where he chose to be buried, different from tradition.

No whale has been buried outside the Vatican for more than a century, but he chose to be buried in the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica of Saint Mary Major), which is located in the most multicultural environment in the Italian capital.

His coffin was brought there on Saturday after his funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square, with about 150,000 people marching along the route through the city's heart to say goodbye.

The coffin is placed in a simple marble tomb in the basilica side alley. Only his name is in Latin, "Franciscus", written on it, while the plain replica cross he usually wears around his neck hangs over the niche.

"I feel it's exactly like the Pope's way. It's simple, and so is the place now," Polish pilgrim Maria Brzezinska said after paying her respects.

Visitors started queuing long before Basilica opened at morning local time. The church was quickly filled with pilgrims after the door opened.

Authorities urged people to leave immediately after they saw the tomb, saying thousands of other people were waiting to enter.

Six hours later, 30,000 people visited St. Mary Major, according to the Vatican.

Pilgrims who left Basilica at lunch time said they had been queuing for more than two hours and had only a few minutes inside.

In the afternoon, hundreds of cardinals gathered in the church to pray.

It is known, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore was founded in 432 and is the only Basilica in Rome that retains early Christian buildings, despite the many additions at a later date.

Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88, is very close to this place because of his service to Mother Mary. He always prayed there before and after traveling abroad.

The respected Byzantine icon of Maria is placed in the Pauline chapel near the tomb. A vassel containing gold roses, donated by Francis in 2023, is placed between candles under the icon.

The late Pope Francis last visited the chapel carrying a white rose bunch on April 12. White roses are placed on his grave.

"So intense. He is someone close to everyone, so we respect him for what he has done, each in our own way. Thank you," said Carmelo Lamurra, a Roma resident.

It is known that Pope Francis in his will written in June 2022 asked for a simple burial, including the wooden coffin used.

In his will, Pope Francis also requested that his tomb be prepared in a cemetery niche in the side alley between Kapel Pauline (Salus Kapel Populi Romani) and Kapel Sforza in Basilika.

"The grave must be on the ground; simple, without special ornaments, it only reads: Franciscus," he wrote.