Today Pope Francis was buried in Rome. Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio on 17 December 1936 in Flores, a neighbourhood of Buenos Aires.

The Pope revealed his plans to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore in December 2023, explaining that he felt a “very strong connection” with the basilica. “I want to be buried in Santa Maria Maggiore,” Francis said. “Because it is my great devotion.”

The practice of burying the Pope in three coffins was a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church, with each coffin holding symbolic meaning. The innermost coffin, made of cypress, contained the Pope’s body and artifacts. The lead coffin, which housed the cypress coffin, was inscribed with the Pope’s name and other details, according to the Vatican handbook “Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff”. Finally, the outer coffin, often made of elm or walnut, provided a protective layer and emphasized the Pope’s dignity, says the Center for Inquiry. While Pope Francis has simplified the funeral rites and has discontinued the three-coffin tradition, this practice was previously a way to honor the Pope’s position within the Church and symbolize their transition into the afterlife. 

Here’s a more detailed look at each coffin:

• Cypress Coffin:This simple wooden coffin housed the Pope’s body and was designed to represent their humility and connection to the earth, says the Center for Inquiry. It also contained symbolic items like bags of coins representing the years of their pontificate, according to a post on Facebook. 
• Lead Coffin:This durable coffin protected the cypress coffin and was engraved with the Pope’s name, the years of their pontificate, and other relevant details, according to a post on Facebook. 
• Elm (or Walnut) Coffin:This outer coffin, often made of a precious wood like elm, emphasized the Pope’s dignity and was the final resting place for the other two caskets.