Pope Francis: Testament reveals final wishes and burial place!

Pope Francis: Testament reveals final wishes and burial place!

On April 21, 2025, Easter Sunday, Pope Francis received US Vice President James David Vance. Just one day later, the Pope died at the age of 88 due to a stroke and irreversible heart failure in the Pope's apartment in the Santa Marta guesthouse. The death was declared at 7:35 a.m. by Professor Andrea Arcangeli, director of the Vatican City Health Department. As a result, the Vatican immediately published his will, which was written on June 29, 2022 and contains details about his burial.

In the said will, Pope Francis expresses a clear desire to have his remains buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. He emphasizes that he has entrusted his life and ministry to the Most Holy Mary and wants the tomb to be simple and without special decoration. The inscription should simply read “Franciscus”. According to the Pope, the tomb was to be located in a niche in the aisle between the Cappella Paolina and the Cappella Sforza. The exact details are recorded in an unpublished appendix to the will.

A testament full of meaning

The will's publication came at a time when the world was reacting to the death of the influential religious leader. Prof. Dr. Annette Gerstenberg, a Romance scholar from Potsdam, analyzed the text and pointed out parts that were difficult to understand. These include, for example, the missing use of the word “and”, which led to the publication of an official version with additions. Gerstenberg emphasizes that the text has the characteristic features of Pope Francis' immediate use of language and shows clear deviations from standardized language.

Another aspect of the will is the financing of the grave. This will be done through a donation from an unnamed benefactor, with Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas having received instructions on how to handle the finances. Pope Francis also included a prayer in his will for the people who pray for him.

Funeral ceremonies and their planning

The exact dates for the funeral ceremonies have not yet been set. According to information, the cardinals will decide on this in general congregations. Funeral services are expected to begin four to six days after the death and last a total of nine days. The Pope had already announced in March 2023 that he would simplify the rite of the papal funeral, and the new rite was published in November 2023.

The desire not to be buried in St. Peter's Basilica was already known in December 2023. In the last years of his life, Francis also sacrificed his personal suffering for world peace and brotherhood among peoples, which gives his spiritual legacy a special dimension. The linguistic peculiarity and personal expression of his will are therefore not only of interest to linguists, but also mark an important part of the current discussion about AI and linguistic uncertainty.