In a deeply moving farewell, Pope Francis’ body made a six-kilometer (approximately 3.5-mile) journey from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, filled with symbolic gestures that spoke volumes about his life, his mission, and his love for the Church.
Departing Through the ‘Door of His Home’
After the funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square, pallbearers carried the late pontiff’s coffin through the Perugino Door, near Casa Santa Marta — the modest Vatican residence where he lived throughout his twelve-year papacy. Rather than exiting through the grand square, he departed from “the door of his home,” a powerful reminder of the humble spirit with which he led the Church, according to Catholic News Agency (CNA).
A Mexican Gift Carried Him Home
The coffin was transported in a special white popemobile gifted by Mexico in 2017 — a modified Dodge Ram that Pope Francis used during his historic 2016 visit. As CNA notes, the choice of vehicle highlighted Francis’ affection for the people of Mexico and his broader solidarity with Latin America.
Crossing the Tiber: From the Vatican to Rome
The procession crossed the Tiber River via the Prince Amadeo of Savoy Bridge, marking the symbolic transition from Vatican City into the heart of Rome. This emphasized Francis’ identity not only as pope but as the bishop of Rome, “representing his intimate connection with his role,” according to CNA.
The Bishop of Rome’s Final Journey Through His City
As the procession moved through Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the iconic Piazza Venezia, thousands of faithful gathered along the route. Amid applause and prayers, the late pope’s final journey intertwined with the Eternal City’s living history. CNA highlights that this path “connected Francis’ pontificate with the Eternal City’s millennia of history.”
Passing by the Heart of Jesuit Life
In another profoundly symbolic moment, the procession passed the Church of the Gesù — the mother church of the Jesuits, the order to which Francis belonged. As CNA recalls, Francis presided over a concelebrated Mass there in 2013, on the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, showing his lifelong bond with his Jesuit roots.
The Colosseum and the Way of the Cross
Passing the Colosseum brought to mind the many Good Fridays Pope Francis spent there, presiding over the traditional Way of the Cross prayers, offering reflections on peace and the memory of Christian martyrs. Health concerns prevented him from leading the devotion at the Colosseum after 2023, but its symbolism remained vivid as his coffin passed by, according to CNA.
The Via Merulana and Corpus Christi Memories
Traveling along Via Merulana, the route between the Basilica of St. John Lateran and St. Mary Major, evoked memories of Corpus Christi processions dating back to the Jubilee of 1575. The sight of the Lateran Basilica fading into the background reminded all of Francis’ devotion to his role as Rome’s bishop, CNA notes.
The Culmination at St. Mary Major: Entrusting to Mary
Finally, Pope Francis arrived at the Basilica of St. Mary Major — the place where he often prayed before and after his apostolic journeys, entrusting his missions to the Virgin Mary. CNA emphasized that he chose this basilica for his burial “due to his profound devotion to the Byzantine icon of the Salus Populi Romani.”
Resting Near Saints and Home in Spirit
Pope Francis now rests among seven other pontiffs and saints, including St. Jerome, whose love for Scripture inspired Francis to institute the Sunday of the Word of God. Significantly, his tomb lies just steps from the Argentine embassy, a quiet echo of the homeland he never returned to after his election, according to CNA.
A Final Gift: White Roses from St. Thérèse
Upon his tomb lay white roses — a nod to his beloved St. Thérèse of Lisieux, who once said she would “let fall a shower of roses” after her death. Reflecting on his devotion, Francis had explained to journalists in 2015: “When I don’t know how things will go, I have the habit of asking St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus to take the problem in her hands and send me a rose” (CNA).
Thus concluded the earthly journey of Pope Francis: a journey filled with faith, humility, and a love for the people of God — crowned fittingly with symbols pointing to eternity.
