For the first time in the era of the modern Church, a papal procession has traveled through the streets of central Rome to bid farewell to a Pontiff. Francis broke with tradition and wanted to be buried outside the Vatican, to the east of the city, in the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, which preserves the form of a Roman pagan temple (originally a sanctuary in honor of the goddess Cybele) and stands out for its profuse Byzantine decoration.
The procession did not leave through St. Peter's but through the Perugino gate in the Vatican and following the ancient Via Papalis, the procession traditionally made by the pontiffs after being designated between St. Peter's and the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of the Diocese of Rome.
The wooden coffin with Francis' remains, who wanted to be buried with his worn-out shoes, traveled on a Popemobile and advanced "at a human pace" along six kilometers, bid farewell by thousands of faithful crowded along the streets of central Rome during the journey.
Just after crossing the Tiber River, when the faithful shouted "Great, great!" and "Long live the Pope!", the procession headed down Corso Vittorio Emmanuele to reach Venezia Square and then continued through the Roman Forum and the Colosseum, and finally through Via Mercuriana to Santa Maria Maggiore Square.
Approximately 300,000 people lined the six-kilometer route through the streets of Rome. The faithful concentrated mainly on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, in the final stretch through the Roman Forum, and at Santa Maria Maggiore Square, a stone's throw from Termini Station.
Forty special guests from Caritas and the Community of Sant'Egidio received the coffin in front of the basilica, representing the marginalized groups defended by Francis: immigrants, homeless, and transgender individuals. The Holy See justified the choice out of fidelity to Francis' social justice legacy, stating that "the poor have a privileged place in God's heart."
The coffin entered the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, preceded by the procession of cardinals who will attend the private ceremony and offer a prayer for Francis later this afternoon.
Bergoglio will join seven other Popes resting in the temple, including Saint Pius V. The doors of the basilica will close for the private interment ceremony. "I want to be buried in the ground, in a simple way and without particular decoration," the Pope stated. The inscription "Franciscus" will identify his tomb, before which thousands of faithful will pass starting on Sunday.
"Right after the sculpture of the Queen of Peace, there is a small enclosure, a door leading to a room used to store the candlesticks. I saw it and thought, 'That's the place'..." Vatican expert Javier Martínez-Brocal recounts in his book The Successor how and why Francis chose this place to be buried, due to his devotion to the Virgin and his personal fondness for this basilica, which he used to visit before and after his trips.