Vatican publishes the Pope’s testament

The Vatican has published the spiritual testament of Pope Francis, the details of which became known on April 21.

The document was drafted on June 29, 2022, and outlines the Pope’s last wishes regarding his burial site.

Pope Francis requested that his body be buried in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. “I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan. The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus,” reads the document.

The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which the Pope had arranged to be transferred to the basilica.