“I’ve always had a great devotion” Latest Details of Pope Francis’s funeral date, time and location

As he asked, Pope Francis will be buried at St. Mary Major Basilica (Santa Maria Maggiore).

He said in his 2024 book El Sucesor (The Successor), “I’ve always had a great devotion to St. Mary Major, even before I became pope.”

He told the newspaper Times that Pope Francis “has been here 125 times since becoming Pope and always brings flowers.” Father Ivan Ricupero is the basilica’s master of ceremonies and head of ritual.

The church began in 432, one year after the Council of Ephesus said that Mary was the mother of God. You can get there in about 4 km (2.5 miles).

Since the late pontiff said in his will that he wanted a simple burial in the ground, his choice goes against tradition.

The Vatican press office is giving out more and more detailed information about the last 24 hours of the Pope’s life.

Francis was a little nervous about going out on the balcony on Sunday, and he told Massimiliano Strappetti, his personal nurse, about it.

He asked, “Do you think I can do this?” Strappetti made him feel better, and soon Francis was on the balcony blessing the people below.

“Thank you taking me back to the square,” he said to Strappetti afterward.

Francis went back to his quarters, rested, and ate dinner after his show.

The Vatican says Francis started to feel sick early the next morning, around 5:30 local time (3:30am BST). He was taken care of right away.

After an hour, he waved at Strappetti and then passed out.

The Vatican says, “Those who were with him at that time say he didn’t suffer.”

“It was a discreet death, without long waits or too much clamouring.”

The Vatican has released more information about the funeral plans for Pope Francis, who died on Friday at the age of 88. His death caused Catholics all over the world to express their grief.
People can now see pictures of the late pope in an open coffin. He was wearing a red robe and had a rosary in his hand.

Francis will be the first pope since Leo XIII, who died in 1903, to be buried outside the Vatican.