Via Victoria Cardiel
Rome Newsroom, Apr 27, 2025 /
21:29 pm
The six-kilometer adventure that transported Pope Francis’ frame from St. Peter’s Basilica to St. Mary Main featured profound symbolism and emotion. Listed below are one of the vital extra vital moments:
Departing via “the door of his house”
After the funeral Mass, pallbearers carried the coffin now not via St. Peter’s Sq. however by way of the Perugino Door, steps from Casa Santa Marta — the Pope’s Vatican place of abode all over his 12-year preach — from which he steadily “escaped” for wonder visits round Rome.
The Mexican popemobile as hearse
In a gesture wealthy with which means, the coffin was once transported in a white popemobile that Mexico had talented to the Vatican in 2017 — a changed Dodge Ram that the pope used all over his historical 2016 discuss with to the rustic. Pope Francis’ apostolic adventure to Mexico lasted six days, from Friday, February 12, to Wednesday, February 17, 2016, when he visited 5 Mexican towns.
From Vatican to Rome crossing the Tiber
The procession crossed the Tiber River by way of the Prince Amadeo of Savoy Bridge, symbolically marking the passage from Vatican Town to Rome. This second represented Pope Francis’ intimate connection together with his position as Bishop of Rome.
The Bishop of Rome’s ultimate adventure
Amid applause from attendees, the procession complicated alongside Corso Vittorio Emanuele, one among Rome’s primary arteries, the place 1000’s of devoted accrued to bid their ultimate farewell to the Argentine pontiff. The path additionally incorporated the enduring Piazza Venezia, Rome’s neuralgic middle, prior to turning towards the Imperial Boards, connecting Francis’ preach with the Everlasting Town’s millennia of historical past.
Passing the Jesuit church
Pope Francis, the primary Jesuit pontiff in historical past, maintained a distinct courting with the Church of the Gesù in Rome, the principle headquarters of the Society of Jesus. On July 31, 2013, the banquet of St. Ignatius of Loyola, he presided at a concelebration on this church. Throughout each and every apostolic adventure outdoor Italy, he sought to satisfy with native Jesuits.
The Colosseum and his ultimate Manner of the Go
Some of the shifting moments was once when the coffin handed via the Roman Colosseum. As pope, Francis presided each and every Just right Friday over the normal Manner of the Go, praying for peace and remembering Christian martyrs. Because of well being issues, Pope Francis were not able to preside over this prayer on the historical website online since 2023.
The By way of Merulana and Corpus Christi
Touring alongside By way of Merulana, the procession left the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Rome diocese, within the background, recalling Francis’ particular bond together with his position as Bishop of Rome.
By way of Merulana is the normal path for Corpus Christi processions in Rome, courting again to Pope Gregory XIII, who established this path for non secular processions between the 2 basilicas all over the Jubilee of 1575.
(Tale continues underneath)
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Peter returned to his Mom: St. Mary Main
The culminating second was once the arriving at St. Mary Main Basilica, the place Francis selected to be buried because of his profound devotion to the Byzantine icon of the Salus Populi Romani. This position held particular importance for him, as he visited prior to and after each and every apostolic adventure to entrust his challenge to the Virgin Mary.
Francis rests close to St. Jerome and Bernini
But even so Pope Francis, seven different pontiffs, more than a few saints, and well-known figures are buried on this church. Some have particular connections to the overdue pope, together with St. Jerome, whom Francis venerated via instituting the Sunday of the Phrase of God at the saint’s liturgical memorial.
His tomb is steps clear of Argentina in Rome
St. Mary Main Basilica is positioned simply steps from probably the most Argentine position within the nation: the Argentine embassy to Italy. Francis by no means returned to his native land after being elected pontiff, and rumors circulated for years about his want to be buried in Buenos Aires.
White roses from St. Thérèse of Lisieux on Pope Francis’ tomb
Pope Francis had a distinct devotion to the French Carmelite mystic, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose image is the white rose. The pope as soon as defined his connection to those vegetation, telling reporters in January 2015 after his go back and forth to the Philippines: “Once I don’t understand how issues will cross, I’ve the dependancy of asking St. Thérèse of the Kid Jesus to take the issue in her fingers and ship me a rose.”
This tale was once first revealed via ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language information spouse. It’s been translated and tailored via CNA.
As a journalist, Victoria Cardiel has specialised in social and spiritual information. Since 2013, she has lined the Vatican for more than a few media shops, together with Europa Press and Alfa and Omega, the weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Madrid.
