List of Popes buried at Basilica where Pope Francis asked to be buried

Pope Francis was laid to rest on Saturday, April 26, 2025. His burial took place at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. He is the eighth pope interred at this historic church.

This burial marks a significant change from tradition. Most popes are usually buried at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Pope Francis had a special bond with Santa Maria Maggiore. He often visited the revered icon of Salus Populi Romani during his papacy.

His tomb is now near this sacred image. This reflects his pastoral heart and devotion to Mary. With his interment, Pope Francis joins seven other popes buried there. These include Pope Honorius III, Pope Nicholas IV, and Pope St. Pius V.

Pope Francis's burial is notable for another reason. It is the first papal interment outside the Vatican in over a century. While St. Peter’s Basilica has been customary for modern popes, earlier popes were buried elsewhere.

For example, Pope John Paul I was initially buried in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Other popes like Leo XIII and Pius IX were interred in different chapels within Vatican grounds.

However, it remains rare for a pope to choose a site outside St. Peter’s entirely today. Pope Francis's resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore shows his call for a simpler Church rooted in mercy and service.

As of April 2025, eight popes have been buried at Santa Maria Maggiore:
1. Pope Honorius III (1216–1227)
2. Pope Nicholas IV (1288–1292)
3. Pope St. Pius V (1566–1572)
4. Pope Sixtus V (1585–1590)
5. Pope Clement VIII (1592–1605)
6. Pope Paul V (1605–1621)
7. Pope Clement IX (1667–1669)
8. Pope Francis (2013–2025)