Pope Francis laid to rest

The 266th Pope, Francis, has been laid to rest at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major (Santa Maria Maggiore) in Rome.

According to Report, which cites international media, the burial ceremony was held in the presence of a small circle of people, including several cardinals.

Photos showing what the Pope’s resting place would look like had been released earlier. It features a marble slab with the inscription "Franciscus" in Latin. During his lifetime, Pope Francis personally chose his burial site — a niche between the Sforza and Pauline Chapels, the latter named after Pope Paul V Borghese, who is also buried there. The Pauline Chapel houses the revered icon of the Virgin Mary, Protector of Rome, before which Francis often prayed, including shortly before his passing.

His coffin was placed beneath the floor, honoring his wish to be "buried in the earth." In Catholic tradition, sealing coffins within walls is also quite common.

Francis becomes the eighth pontiff to be buried in this basilica — the last papal burial there dates back to the second half of the 17th century. Though located in Rome on the Esquiline Hill, the basilica is formally under Vatican jurisdiction.