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Basilica of Saint Mary Major Scott 130 (1949) On December 14, 2023, an article appeared in the National Catholic Register entitled “Six Popes Are Buried at St. Mary Major; Pope Francis Says He’ll Be Next”. In the article, it was reported that Pope Francis had revealed that a “place is already prepared” for him to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. The announcement of the pope’s wishes to be buried at Saint Mary Major is a deviation from recent history since, for most popes over the last century or so, the custom has been for the popes to be interred at the Vatican, specifically at Saint Peter’s Basilica. However, the wishes of Pope Francis are not unique, and point towards his devotion to the Basilica and to the fact that six other popes are buried there. One of the four “Major Basilicas” of Rome, St. Mary Major (or Santa Maria Maggiore in Italian) dates back over 1500 years. It is sometimes called Our Lady of the Snows, in reference to the legend of its establishment and the founding of its location on the Esquiline Hill in Rome. Pope Francis has made more than 100 visits to the basilica since becoming pope. It was the first Basilica he visited following his election in 2013, and he visits the Basilica before and after each of his apostolic trips beyond the Vatican. He specifically comes to venerate the icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as the Salus Populi Romani (“Mary, Protection of the Roman People”), perhaps the oldest image of Mary in Rome. Pope Francis has reported that his tomb has already been constructed near the icon, to which he has a deep devotion. As mentioned in the title of the NCR article, six other popes are buried at the Basilica. The article shows photographs of the tombs and associated statuary for each of the popes. In chronological order, the tombs of the following popes can be visited at Santa Maria Maggiore: Pope Honorius III (1150-1227), was elected pope in 1216 and is perhaps best known for confirming the “Second Rule of Saint Francis”, the rule still followed by the Franciscan Order today. Pope Nicholas IV (1227-1292), elected pope in 1288, was the first Franciscan pope. Among the events of his papacy, he built the palace next to St. Mary Major and, in 1292, commissioned the first know Nativity scene, inspired by St. Francis of Assisi’s living Nativity in Greccio. Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572), elected pope in 1566, is the only “saintly” pope buried at the Basilica. A friend of Saint Charles Borromeo, the main accomplishments of his pontificate are tied to the institution of the reforms promulgated by the Council of Trent (which took place 1545-1563):  
Pope Pius V: 5th Centenary of Birth Scott 1258-1259 (2004) Pope Sixtus V (1521-1590), elected pope in 1585, is best known for the public works projects he initiated throughout Rome. Perhaps the most famous event in this period was the moving of the massive obelisk into the center of St. Peter’s Square. At St. Mary Major, he commissioned the Chapel of the Cradle, which is believed to hold relics of Jesus’ manger:  
Pope Sixtus V: 5th Centenary of Birth Scott 1770-1771 (2021) Pope Clement VIII (1536-1605) was elected pope in 1592. St. Philip Neri was reportedly his confessor for 30 years. During his pontificate, Clement VIII enacted Church reforms in spite of major geopolitical problems: 
Pope Clement VIII: Popes of the Holy Years Scott 1097 (1999) Pope Clement IX (1600-1669) was elected pope in 1667. He served a short pontificate of two years, and was known as a compassionate “pope of the people”. He frequently visited hospitals, donated to the poor, and resisted the then-widespread practice of nepotism. Thus, it has been over 350 years since a pope has been laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore, a streak which will be broken upon the death of Pope Francis. An upcoming Daily Email will look at the question: where are all the other popes buried? There are a number sites other than the easy answer of Saint Peter’s Basilica which we will visit. REFERENCES: • Jonah McKeown (from the Catholic News Agency), National Catholic Register, December 14, 2023, Six Popes Are Buried at St. Mary Major; Pope Francis Says He'll be Next • Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search |
