The first official images of Pope Francis’ tomb ✝️ Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome Simplicity is the new opulence A…

The first official images of Pope Francis’ tomb ✝️ Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome Simplicity is the new opulence A Thread 🧵

Here are the first images of the tomb, white and made of simple marble, perfectly in line with Pope Francis’ devotion to St. Francis, the saint of simplicity The crucifix reflects the one on his pectoral cross, which he carried throughout his papacy

The tomb is made of Ligurian marble as a tribute to the family origins of Jorge Mario Bergoglio He was the son of Mario Bergoglio and Regina Maria Sivori, both of Italian descent, from Liguria and Piedmont

His burial ceremony was not public, and took place in his favorite church, where he often retreated to pray, namely the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major, Rome

The Cardinal Camerlengo presided over the burial and the placement of the Pope within the niche prepared for him

Only the Pope’s relatives, officials, and clergy were allowed to attend this burial ceremony

Starting this morning, the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome has opened its doors, and long lines of pilgrims, visitors, faithful, and even tourists have already begun to form to pay tribute to this simple burial site of the Pope

There is silence and prayer, but already many people are waiting to pay their respects to the late Pope

I remind you that St. Mary Major is one of the four papal basilicas in Rome and the only one to have preserved its original Early Christian structure, although enriched by numerous later additions It is a true gem, full of invaluable beauty ✨

Inside, notable are the refined mosaic decorations: the Early Christian stories from the Bible The gold that covers the coffered ceiling of the central nave is said to have been the first to arrive from the Americas, donated to Pope Alexander VI by the Spanish Crown

But above all, this basilica houses the famous icon of the Salus Populi Romani, a Marian effigy that celebrates unconditional love, the love of a mother for her child Throughout his entire papacy, Pope Francis visited this place of prayer more than 120 times

Pope Francis was always deeply captivated and devoted to this icon, and it is beautiful, in accordance with his wishes, that he now rests for eternity beside it 🌹

It is worth noting that in December 2023, Pope Francis had honored the Salus Populi Romani with the so-called Golden Rose, a papal tradition of medieval origin, meant to pay homage as a symbol of devotion and prayer

With a rose not of gold but white, we pray that Pope Francis may rest in eternal peace “Rosa alba offertur, ut Papa Franciscus in pace aeterna requiescat”