The Vatican has announced that the tomb of the late Pope Francis will be accessible to the public beginning Sunday morning, April 27, following his funeral services at St. Peter’s Basilica earlier that weekend. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed the timeline for public visitation at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where the pontiff will be laid to rest in a historic departure from traditional papal burials within Vatican City.
The funeral for Pope Francis, who passed away Monday at age 88, will take place Saturday in a ceremony expected to draw world leaders and dignitaries to St. Peter’s Square. Later that day, his remains will be transferred to Santa Maria Maggiore for interment – marking the first time in over a century that a pope has been buried outside Vatican grounds.
The chosen burial site holds deep personal significance for the late pontiff, who frequently prayed before the basilica’s revered Salus Populi Romani icon throughout his papacy. In keeping with his well-known humility, the tomb features a simple marble slab bearing only his papal name “Franciscus” without elaborate ornamentation.
Rome authorities are preparing for massive crowds, with initial estimates suggesting over half a million visitors may pay their respects in the first week alone. Additional public transportation services will be activated, including extended metro hours on the Termini line serving the basilica area. Queue management systems with water stations and shaded waiting areas are being installed to accommodate the expected lines stretching several city blocks.
The Vatican will issue detailed visitation guidelines on Friday, including any specific dress code requirements for the sacred site. Church officials emphasized that the location choice reflects Francis’ desire to remain spiritually close to the people he served, particularly the marginalized communities he frequently visited in the Esquilino neighborhood surrounding the basilica.
This unique burial arrangement continues the unconventional legacy of the first Jesuit pope and first pontiff from the Americas, whose simple lifestyle and focus on the peripheries challenged many Vatican traditions during his 12-year papacy. The public will now have their first opportunity to visit the humble tomb starting Sunday morning, following a weekend of solemn funeral rites for the globally beloved spiritual leader.
