ROME -- Many people had waited two to three hours to get into the basilica to visit the tomb of Pope Francis, standing patiently in a line that snaked around to the back of the church and zigzagged its way down the large square behind the Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome's largest church dedicated to Mary.
The church had opened its doors to the public at 7 a.m. April 27 so people could pay homage to the pope, who wanted to be buried there because of his devotion to Mary and to be closer to the people of Rome, his diocese. The city's chief of police said at least 30,000 people had visited in the first six hours.
Pope Francis' tomb appears to be simple, adorned with an enlarged rendering of his pectoral cross and made of white Ligurian marble -- a nod to the land of his Italian grandparents -- while bearing only the name "Franciscus."
A single white rose sits on the tomb of Pope Francis in Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
A light shines on a replica of Pope Francis' pectoral cross above his tomb in the side aisle of Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
A light shines on a replica of Pope Francis' pectoral cross above his tomb in the side aisle of Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
A light shines on a replica of Pope Francis' pectoral cross above his tomb in the side aisle of Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)
A light shines on a replica of Pope Francis' pectoral cross above his tomb in the side aisle of Rome's Basilica of St. Mary Major early April 27, 2025, as the faithful come to visit and pray. (CNS photo/Pablo Esparza)
Members of the College of Cardinals pray at the tomb of Pope Francis and attend vespers at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome April 27, 2025. Cardinals and the faithful visited the Marian basilica to offer their prayers and respects. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
