The leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has been laid to rest at the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, also known as St. Mary Major, one of the four major Catholic churches in Rome.
Penpushing reports that the pope, who is the first Latin American leader of the church and herald many firsts, has drifted from a century-old tradition with his choice of where he was to be buried.
The deceased had chosen to be buried outside the Vatican, making him the first Pope to do so in 120 years, since Pope Leo XIII was buried at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran and before his death, he had requested a simple tomb in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
Penpushing further reports that Francis in the will released by the Vatican, said the tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus’, adding that the sum provided by a benefactor would cover the costs of his burial.
The late Francis was on Saturday buried at his tomb of choice in a 30-minute burial ceremony with the funeral held in St. Peter’s Square before more than 250,000 mourners and dignitaries from several countries, including Nigeria.
Penpushing also reports that Pope Francis, whose official name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, died Monday at the age of 88 while it is recalled that his death came one day after his brief but final appearance before thousands of Catholic pilgrims at St. Peter’s Square in Rome during the Vatican’s Easter Sunday Mass.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu had sent a five-member delegation, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, to the Vatican City.
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