Pope Francis passed away on Easter Monday at the age of 88. He had battled pneumonia for five weeks. Pope Francis is being laid to rest Saturday in a ceremony reflecting his priorities as pope and wishes as pastor: Presidents and princes will attend his funeral in St. Peter's Square, but prisoners and migrants will usher him into the basilica where he will be buried.

Large Crowd and Tight Security

Thousands of mourners will attend the ceremony. About 224 cardinals and 750 bishops and priests will participate. Several world leaders and dignitaries will also join. To manage the crowd, Italian and Vatican authorities have launched a massive security operation. They expect nearly 200,000 people to arrive. Therefore, they have imposed a no-fly zone. Fighter jets remain on standby, and snipers will guard rooftops around the Vatican. Earlier this week, the Vatican allowed public viewing of the pope’s body. Thousands waited in long lines to say their final goodbyes.

Burial to Follow His Own Wishes

In a rare decision, Pope Francis will not be buried at the Vatican. Instead, he chose Santa Maria Maggiore, a church in Rome, as his final resting place. Known for his simple lifestyle, the pope lived in a modest guesthouse. He avoided the luxurious papal apartments. He often traveled to remote places instead of popular Catholic centers.

In his will, he clearly described his burial wishes. “The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus,” he wrote. He also asked that the burial costs be covered “by a sum provided by a benefactor.” So, the Church will follow his instructions. He will be laid in a single wooden coffin, unlike past popes who had three. His tomb will be made of plain marble.

Santa Maria Maggiore: A Historic Site

Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome. The church holds the remains of many historical figures. One of them is Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the artist who designed St. Peter’s Square. The church has kept its original charm. It features 40 Ionic columns in the main hall. Beautiful mosaics decorate the walls.

Top Leaders to Attend the Funeral

Several world leaders will attend the funeral. Indian President Droupadi Murmu and former US President Donald Trump are on the guest list. Current US President Joe Biden will also be present. Other attending leaders include Argentina’s Javier Milei, Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, France’s Emmanuel Macron, and Lebanon’s Joseph Aoun.