In a poignant departure from papal tradition, Pope Francis chose not the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica for his final resting place, but the beloved Basilica of St. Mary Major—Santa Maria Maggiore—a sacred space deeply entwined with his spiritual journey. This church, long a personal sanctuary for the Pope before and after his apostolic travels, now draws global attention as the site where he will be laid to rest.

The Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome, is not only a historic marvel but also a place of profound Marian devotion. Its origins trace back to the year 352 AD, during the papacy of Pope Liberius. Legend holds that a wealthy Roman nobleman named John and his wife, childless and seeking divine guidance, prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary to reveal a worthy heir to whom they could leave their estate.

On the night of August 5, their prayers were answered in a dream: the Virgin Mary instructed them to build a church in her honor on the Esquiline Hill, marking the spot with an extraordinary sign—a miraculous snowfall in the height of summer. Pope Liberius, who shared a similar vision that night, joined them at dawn to witness the divine phenomenon. Moved by this heavenly sign, the Pope laid out the basilica’s foundation along the contours of the snow, and within two years, the church was completed and consecrated. This miracle gave rise to the church's popular title: Our Lady of the Snows, and to this day, the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major is celebrated on August 5th.

Also referred to as the Basilica Liberiana in honor of Pope Liberius, this sacred site gained further prominence after the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, when Pope Sixtus III rebuilt and adorned the basilica to honor the council’s proclamation of Mary as Theotokos, or Mother of God.

Throughout the centuries, Santa Maria Maggiore has stood as a testament to divine protection and healing. During the 6th century, when plague ravaged Rome, Pope Gregory the Great carried the revered icon of Salus Populi Romani—the Protectress of the Roman People—in a solemn procession. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary interceded, and the plague miraculously subsided. This sacred image, believed to have been painted by St. Luke and brought from the Holy Land by Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, remains enshrined in the basilica to this day.

Again, in 1837, amidst another epidemic, Pope Gregory XVI invoked Mary’s aid through this very icon, and once more, the city was delivered from disease.

Over time, seven popes have been laid to rest within Santa Maria Maggiore, making it a hallowed burial ground for those especially devoted to the Virgin Mary. Its magnificent facade, completed under Pope Eugene III in the 12th century, stands as a lasting symbol of papal reverence and architectural brilliance.

For Pope Francis, whose pontificate was marked by humility, compassion, and Marian devotion, there could be no more fitting final resting place. Santa Maria Maggiore is more than a basilica—it is a testament to miracles, maternal care, and unwavering faith across the ages. Now, it will enshrine the memory of a pope who never tired of seeking Mary’s intercession for a broken world.