By Lucy Caulkett-
An ill Pope Francis has revealed plans for his tomb to be outside the Vatican, as he expressed his intention to simplify the intricate funeral rites traditionally associated with a pontiff’s passing.
The 86-year-old pontiff, who celebrates his 87th birthday this Friday, disclosed his plans in an interview with Mexico’s N+ television, marking the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
His health has been deteriorating of late, following a colon operation in 2021, after being hospitalized in early April with bronchitis. The pope, who marked the 10th anniversary of his papacy in March, said in the interview that despite his health problems, he had “no thought of resigning”
His recent bout of acute bronchitis forced the cancellation of a trip this month to Dubai to participate in the U.N. climate conference. Francis, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, appeared in good form and said he was now recovered and feeling fine.
Known for his humility and efforts to distance himself from the opulence often associated with the Vatican, Pope Francis shared that he has been collaborating with Archbishop Diego Ravelli, the Vatican’s master of ceremonies, to streamline the extensive funeral procedures typically observed for popes.
During the interview, the Pope, who recently battled bronchitis but appeared to have recovered, touched on various subjects, including his health, migration, and his relationship with the late Pope Benedict XVI.
Despite acknowledging the limitations of old age, he asserted that his health was good but requested prayers from the faithful.
Pope Francis, who has consistently eschewed the traditional papal attire, opting for simplicity over extravagance, explained that he wishes to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore because of his devotion to ‘Mary, mother of God’.
The pope frequently visits the basilica to pray before and after foreign trips. Notably, the funeral Mass is expected to take place in St. Peter’s Square.
The choice of burial site marks a significant departure from the norm, as many popes find their final resting place in the crypts beneath St. Peter’s Basilica.
The last pope to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII, who passed away in 1903 and is interred in the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Pope Francis has been open about the possibility of resigning if his health deteriorates significantly, following the precedent set by Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. However, he emphasized that papal resignations should not become commonplace.
Acknowledging that he has become less patient with conservative critics since the death of Pope Benedict a year ago, Pope Francis expressed a willingness to confront those who oppose his progressive stance within the Church.
In a recent display of firmness, he took disciplinary action against two conservative U.S. prelates.
Despite a recent bout of bronchitis that led to the cancellation of a trip to the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, Pope Francis is optimistic about his health and revealed plans for three trips in the coming year, including visits to Polynesia, Belgium, and his native Argentina – his first visit to Argentina since assuming the papacy in 2013.