Pope Francis and Santa Maria Maggiore

Pope Francis passed away this morning. One of his signature moves was that, in choosing in advance where he wanted to be buried, he chose his beloved Santa Maria Maggiore, a papal basilica in Rome, instead of St. Peter's Basilica. Santa Maria Maggiore was originally constructed in the 5th century, a miraculous response to a woman and her husband praying that the woman would become a mother. This is an astonishing nod to the laity and motherhood tracing all the way back to the early Church. 

Francis asked to be buried in a side chapel under one of the most famous icons in the world called "Salus Populi Romani" which means "The Salvation of the Roman People." 

By a complete coincidence, I have spent many, many hours in this basilica in recent months. Here is the icon under which Francis will be buried:      

This is the Pauline Chapel with the icon above the altar, where I regularly attend daily Mass:

This is the main altar of the basilica with the baldacchino over it:

Here are relics from the crib in Bethlehem below the main altar: 

Here is the Ave Regina Pacis, which was important as a sign to bring about the end of the World War II:

Pope Francis had a special place in his heart for women, and wrote eloquently about mothers. May the Church hear and emulate him in that dignifying esteem. 

Lastly, here is a video of what it is like to walk through the Holy Doors, which is a key element to the Jubilee year, a year of mercy and hope. Thank you, Pope Francis, for this Jubilee!

https://youtu.be/8gc5grA0WDc