Following Pope Francis’ death from a cerebral stroke that resulted in heart failure, Vatican officials have released his will, which details his burial wishes.

The will begins, “Feeling that the sunset of my earthly life is approaching and with lively hope in the Eternal Life, I wish to express my testamentary will only with regard to the place of my Burial.”

Written in June 2022, the will outlines the Pope’s burial preferences, which differ from those of previous pontiffs in recent centuries.

“I have always entrusted my life and the priestly and episcopal ministry to the Therefore, I ask that my mortal remains rest waiting for the day of the resurrection in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore,” the document states.

Francis expressed his desire for his “last earthly journey to end in this ancient sanctuary.”

The will also requests that Francis be buried in the earth “without particular decorum and with the only inscription: Franciscus.”

“I ask that my tomb be prepared in the hole of the aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the aforementioned Papal Basilica as Indicated in the attached annex,” it reads.

He also stipulated that burial expenses be covered by funds from a benefactor, arranged by Francis.

“I have arranged, to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and of which I have provided to give Appropriate instructions to Mons. Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Chapter Liberian,” his will reads.

give the well-deserved reward to those who have loved me and will continue to pray For me. The suffering that was made in the last part of my life I offered to the Lord For peace in the world and brotherhood among peoples,” it concluded.

Francis, 88, passed away Monday morning at the Vatican. According to an update from Vatican officials, Dr. Andrea Arcangeli, head of the Vatican’s health department, stated that the stroke induced a coma and led to irreversible heart failure.

“I certify that His Holiness Francesco (Jorge Mario Bergoglio) born in Buenos Aires (Argentina) on December 17, 1936, Resident in Vatican City, Vatican Citizen, died at 7.35 am on April 21, 2025, in his apartment at the Domus Santa Marta (Vatican City) of: Brain stroke, coma, and irreversible cardiocollaspe,” the report stated.

Arcangeli added that Francis also experienced episodes of “respiratory insufficiency,” in addition to his recent bilateral pneumonia. Officials reported that the Pope also had type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

Francis, who had been battling pneumonia for weeks before his release from the hospital, for many years and had half of one of his lungs removed when he was young.

He was elected to the papacy on March 13, 2013, becoming the first Jesuit pope.

The Pope’s final public appearance was on Easter Sunday at St. Peter’s Square.

‘ Thomas Ferraro, Alec Schemmel, and Andrea Margolis contributed to this report.

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