A white rose sits on Pope Francis's marble tomb at Santa Maria Maggiore church in Rome. Light shines from a single spotlight on the crucifix above his name, carved in stone. The late Pope was buried there after his public funeral at the Vatican on Saturday. Many people lined up early Sunday morning to pay respects to the pontiff who died Monday at age 88. Francis chose this church because of his deep devotion to the Virgin Mary.
The basilica stands near the Colosseum, close to Rome's busy Termini station, outside Vatican City, where popes usually rest. Francis told church officials back in 2022 that he wanted to be laid to rest there. World leaders joined hundreds of thousands of Catholics who gathered near the Vatican for his funeral. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, age 91, spoke about how Francis urged people to build bridges instead of walls. President Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelensky during the event.
After the public ceremony, Francis's coffin traveled through Rome as 140,000 people clapped along the route. The white popemobile passed famous landmarks before reaching its final destination. Cardinals will soon select a new pope. The selection process might begin May 5 or 6 with 135 cardinals participating - the largest such gathering in recent history.
The basilica stands near the Colosseum, close to Rome's busy Termini station, outside Vatican City, where popes usually rest. Francis told church officials back in 2022 that he wanted to be laid to rest there. World leaders joined hundreds of thousands of Catholics who gathered near the Vatican for his funeral. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, age 91, spoke about how Francis urged people to build bridges instead of walls. President Trump met with Ukrainian President Zelensky during the event.
After the public ceremony, Francis's coffin traveled through Rome as 140,000 people clapped along the route. The white popemobile passed famous landmarks before reaching its final destination. Cardinals will soon select a new pope. The selection process might begin May 5 or 6 with 135 cardinals participating - the largest such gathering in recent history.
