Just a few days after becoming Pope, Pope Francis revealed his wish for burial in his death.
In March 2013, Pope Francis was elected during a Conclave by the Catholic Church Cardinal following Pope Benedict XVI’s decision to resign amid health concerns.
“It was his belief that he might not have lived that long,” Neomi Dianda, a trained constructive theologian, told Fox News Digital. “When he was already elected Pope in the 70s, he wanted to be prepared when God called him home.”
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Pope Francis chose the Cathedral of Santa Maria Magiaore as his final resting spot a few days after being elected Pope in 2013. (Yara Nardi/Reuters)
Deanda holds a PhD. He graduated in theology from Loyola University in Chicago, with a master’s degree in Obrato Theology and a master’s degree in theology from St. Mary’s University in Texas. She is an expert on Latin American studies and Mary in Latin American.
“He didn’t know how long he would live. He was elected to the Pope at an elderly age, so he definitely didn’t think he had such a long papal authority,” said Deanda. “He wanted to make his wish available in case God called him to the house.”
Pope Francis chose the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore as his final resting place.
“There’s something important to his grandparents,” Deanda told Fox News Digital. “His grandparents are people who emigrated to Argentina with his father, and I believe they lived nearby and visited the cathedral.”
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Pope Francis met with Vice President J.D. Vance on Easter Sunday. (Vatican Media via AP)
On March 13, 2013, Pope Francis made his first public appearance as the Cathedral Pope.
“It was his favorite place to visit,” Deanda said. “It’s the place he goes whenever he goes on a trip. He goes there to pray before he goes on a trip.”
Pope Francis, born in Argentina, Jorge Mario Bergolio, was the first pope from the Americas.
According to his autobiography, his family fled fascism in Italy and fled to Argentina.
“There’s a great story about them trying to board certain boats, certain boats for immigration trips. They couldn’t sell all the items, so they didn’t make that boat,” Deanda said of Pope Francis’ father and grandparents. “The ship is called the SS Principessa Mafalda.”
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Pope Francis often visited the Cathedral of Santa Maria Maggiore, a place that reminded him of his family. (Filippo Monteforte/AFP/Getty)
Deanda added that the ship was intended to carry Pope Francis’ family.
“It’s possible that his grandparents died on the ship,” Deanda said. “They made it on that ship, and we get Francis and his 10 brothers for that.”
The Vatican revealed that Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, the day after Easter Sunday.
