Pope Francis said in his final testament that he wished to be buried in a “simple” tomb in the ground at Rome’s Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore.
“The tomb must be in the earth; simple, without particular decoration and with the only inscription: Franciscus,” the pontiff said in his testament released by the Vatican.
“I wish that my last earthly journey concludes precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary where I went for prayer at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey to trustfully entrust my intentions to the Immaculate Mother and thank Her for her docile and maternal care,” he said.
The CNN reports that the Pope said he had arranged for an unnamed benefactor to cover the expenses of his burial.
Meanwhile, the Vatican says the Pope died of a stroke and heart failure.
Pope Francis died of a stroke and heart failure, the Vatican’s press office said in a statement today.
Francis’ death was also affected by other ailments, including a “previous episode of acute respiratory failure,” arterial hypertension, and type II diabetes, the statement said.
The statement was signed by the Director of the Health and Hygiene Directorate of the Vatican City State, Andrea Arcangeli.
The late pontiff was hospitalised for five weeks earlier this year, initially suffering from a severe respiratory infection. He was subsequently diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which evolved into pneumonia in both lungs. Francis came close to death during his hospitalization, according to his medical team.
His doctors had said that the pope was so critically ill the staff considered stopping his treatment so he could die. After his medical team said his condition had stabilized, he continued his recovery at his Casa Santa Marta residence.
Despite his poor health, Francis, one of the oldest popes in the church’s history, was seen several times in public at the Vatican during Holy Week, culminating in an Easter Sunday appearance where he delighted crowds at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
(CNN)
