Pope Francis's Coffin Arrives at Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore Following Historic Funeral

Pope Francis’s coffin arrived on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome for burial, following his funeral ceremony at the Vatican. This event marked a significant moment in history, as he became the first pope in over a century to be laid to rest outside the Vatican walls.

Earlier in the day, a solemn funeral Mass was held at St. Peter’s Square, where an estimated 250,000 to 400,000 mourners, including notable world leaders such as U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and French President Emmanuel Macron, gathered to pay their final respects. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re presided over the Mass, honoring Pope Francis’s legacy of humility, compassion, and his unwavering dedication to the marginalized.

Following the service, the simple wooden coffin, lined with zinc, was transported through the streets of Rome in an open-topped popemobile. Thousands of people lined the procession route, many applauding and paying tribute as it passed by iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum.

Upon arrival at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore—a place of deep personal significance to Pope Francis—the coffin was carried inside for a private burial ceremony. Throughout his papacy, Pope Francis frequently visited the basilica to pray before the revered icon of the Madonna, Salus Populi Romani, particularly before and after his international trips.