Pope Francis to be buried in Saint Mary Major church, ... Here we are in front of the icon of Mother Mary in the St. Mary Major church. People are gathered in this side chapel.

The Virgin Mary icon seemed to become almost an ally for Francis in his papacy. He visited her on his first day as pope in 2013, and would pray to her before and after every trip out of Rome.

After blessing the faithful, he entered the chapel that houses the Marian icon, traditionally attributed to St. Luke, and, kneeling, prayed for a few minutes before placing a bouquet of flowers at ...

Pope Leo XIV prayed at the Basilica of St. Mary Major following the Mass where he took possession of the Basilica of St. John Lateran as bishop of Rome. Friday, July 11, 2025 A service of EWTN News ...

A view of the tomb of Pope Francis, who was buried on Saturday, April 26, in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, in a photo released on Sunday, April 27, 2025, by Vatican Media.

The icon, by pious tradition painted by St. Luke, first came to Rome from the East in the fifth century, when Mary was declared the Theotokos — Mother of God — at the Council of Ephesus in 431.

The Virgin Mary icon seemed to become almost an ally for Francis in his papacy. He visited her on his first day as pope in 2013, and would pray to her before and after every trip out of Rome.

Pope Francis had earlier said that he wants to be buried not in St Peter's Basilica or its grottoes, where most popes are buried, but in the St Mary Major Basilica across town. This reflects his ...