Pope’s burial place reflects his ‘humble, simple, essential’ life, basilica’s archbishop says

ROME AP Pope Francis chose his place of burial in St Mary Major Basilica near an icon of the Madonna that he revered because it reflects his humble simple and essential life the archbishop who administers the basilica notified reporters on Friday Francis who died Monday at age will be buried in a niche tomb in the basilica on Saturday after his funeral in St Peter s Square about kilometers miles away Francis initially demurred when Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas suggested in May that he choose St Mary Major as his last resting place Makrickas had identified it because of Francis long association with the basilica its ties to Francis Jesuit order its artistic and spiritual heritage and links to the papacy Seven other popes are buried there but none since At first he stated no because popes are buried in St Peter s Makrickas informed reporters on the moves of the basilica After a week he called me to his home at the Vatican Santa Marta and he revealed Prepare my tomb The pope later insisted that his tomb remain simple insisting that people should still come to the basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary to venerate the Madonna not to see the tomb of a pope Makrickas explained Francis will be buried beneath a simple headstone made of marble from Liguria the Italian region of his mother s family engraved with his name in Latin Franciscus Above it will hang a slightly enlarged replica of his pectoral cross featuring raised images of a shepherd carrying a sheep over his shoulders and a dove but no other adornments The tomb is placed in a niche next to the chapel where the Salus Populi Romani icon that the pope revered is located and in a part of the basilica that was once a door to an adjacent palace where four popes lived During his -year papacy Francis would pray before the icon before and after each foreign trip The basilica also has significance for the Jesuit pope It s where the founder of the religious order St Ignatius Loyola celebrated his first Mass on Christmas Day in The basilica is a pontifical basilica one of four in Rome and has never been destroyed damaged or burned over the ages with history dating back to the fifth century Makrickas called it a treasure chest of art and spirituality