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Popes’ Burial Sites: A Historical Overview

Exploring the Unique Burial Choices of Popes from the Council of Trent to Pope Francis

In a recent interview conducted by Valentina Alazraki, Pope Francis revealed his decision to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, diverging from the tradition of most of his predecessors who are interred in the Vatican Grottoes or St. Peter’s Basilica. The latest pope buried in these traditional sites was Pope Benedict XVI.

Since the end of the Council of Trent in 1563, 42 popes have succeeded, from Pio IV, who concluded the Tridentine Council, to the current Pope Francis. Out of these, 14 popes are not buried in the Vatican.

  • Pius IV (1559-1565) rests in the Roman Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
  • Saint Pius V (1566-1572) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
  • Sixtus V (1585-1590) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
  • Urban VII (1590), whose papacy lasted only 12 days, in the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.
  • Clement VIII (1592-1605) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
  • Paul V (1605-1621) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
  • Gregory XV (1621-1623) in the Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola at Campo Marzio.
  • Innocent X (1644-1655) in the Church of Sant’Agnese in Agone.
  • Clement IX (1667-1669) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
  • Benedict XIII (1724-1730) in the Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva.
  • Clement XII (1730-1740) in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.
  • Clement XIV (1769-1774) in the Basilica dei Santi XII Apostoli.
  • The Blessed Pius IX (1846-1878) in the Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.
  • Leo XIII (1878-1903) in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.

 

Additionally, 30 out of the 266 popes are not buried in Rome. This includes:

  • Gregory XII (1406-1415), the last pope before Benedict XVI to abdicate, in the Co-cathedral of Recanati, Marche.
  • Benedict XII (1334-1342) and Giovanni XXII (1316-1334) in Avignon.
  • Saint Celestine V (1294) in the Basilica of Collemaggio in L’Aquila.
  • The Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276) in Arezzo.
  • Saint Gregory VII (1073-1085) in Salerno.
  • Saint Adeodatus I (615-618) in Cinto Euganeo, Veneto.

 

Pope Francis’ choice to be buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore marks a significant departure from the conventional burial places of popes in recent history.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa. 

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