Almost three years ago, precisely on June 29, 2022, Pope Francis had made arrangements for the cost of his own burial, this was revealed some hours ago by the Vatican, as contained in Pope Francis written funeral wish and a plan of his final resting place and how activities should be conducted during his burial ceremony, this, as the Vatican gave an update that the Pope died on Monday morning after suffering stroke and kidney failure.

The official certification on Pope Francis death came from Professor Andrea Arcangeli, the Director of the Directorate of Health and Hygiene of the Vatican City State, according to Vatican News, an official publication of the Vatican.

Francis had a “prior history of acute respiratory failure caused by multimicrobial bilateral pneumonia, multiple bronchiectases, high blood pressure, and type II diabetes,” the medical report stated.

The pope’s death was confirmed using electrocardiographic thanatography, Vatican News reported.

Pope Francis, according to his spiritual testament as published by the Vatican news media, indicated that his tomb should be erected at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

In quote, Pope Francis said: “As I sense the approaching twilight of my earthly life, and with firm hope in eternal life, I wish to set out my final wishes solely regarding the place of my burial.

Throughout my life, and during my ministry as a priest and bishop, I have always entrusted myself to the Mother of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary. For this reason, I ask that my mortal remains rest – awaiting the day of the Resurrection – in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

I wish my final earthly journey to end precisely in this ancient Marian sanctuary, where I would always stop to pray at the beginning and end of every Apostolic Journey, confidently entrusting my intentions to the Immaculate Mother, and giving thanks for her gentle and maternal care.

I ask that my tomb be prepared in the burial niche in the side aisle between the Pauline Chapel (Chapel of the Salus Populi Romani) and the Sforza Chapel of the Basilica, as shown in the attached plan.

The tomb should be in the ground; simple, without particular ornamentation, bearing only the inscription: Franciscus.

The cost of preparing the burial will be covered by a sum provided by a benefactor, which I have arranged to be transferred to the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major. I have given the necessary instructions regarding this to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Liberian Basilica.

May the Lord grant a fitting reward to all those who have loved me and who continue to pray for me. The suffering that has marked the final part of my life, I offer to the Lord, for peace in the world and for fraternity among peoples”, Pope Francis stated on 29 June 2022.

We had reported that the Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber,
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, at about 9:45am on Monday announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta, hours after Pope Francis had called for an end to wars in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, Yemen and other humanitarian crises in Myanmar, South Sudan, in the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, the Great Lakes, Lebanon, Syria, and thus, begging political leaders not to yield to fear but use the state resources under their custody to fight and eradicate hunger and promote development among the people, which, the Pope said, are weapons of peace, adding that, there can’t be peace without the freedom of religion, expression, thoughts and respect for one another views, just as the Pope on Sunday at around 11:30am, less than 20 hours to his death, met in person with the Vice President of United States, James David Vance after the Pope had called on President Donald Trump to end his anti-immigrant policy, asking Catholics in America to reject the anti-immigrant narratives canvassed by the US government led by President Donald Trump.

Earlier this month, we had reported that the Head of Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Sunday surprised pilgrims at the Saint Peters Square two weeks after leaving Hospital when he made first public appearance at the end of the Mass for the Jubilee of the Sick and Healthcare Workers, looking apparently more healthier and stronger than he was in late March, 2025 when he made public appearance through the window of Gemelli hospital in Rome where he has been under medical care since February 14, he was hospitalized for pneumonia.

We had reported that the Vatican says Pope Francis is still experiencing complex or chronic health conditions that affect multiple parts of his body systems but the Head of the Catholic Church is resting calmly since on Thursday, adding that, the prognosis or the likely outcome or the forecasted outcome of the current health conditions of the Pope is still guarded, this, as local media had earlier reported that the Pope confided on some of his aides that he may not make it alive with reports of some catholic officials already rehearsing for his funeral.

The Pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday, February 14, following a bout of bronchitis, with his doctors later diagnosing bilateral pneumonia.

We had reported that despite the medical condition that he’s under the high flow of oxygen in the Hospital over double pneumonia, Pope Francis on Sunday, on the eve of the third year anniversary of the war in Ukraine launched by President Vladimir Putin led Russia Government, called on everyone in the world to remember victims of the war in Ukraine, describing the war which started on February 24, 2022 as painful, shameful for all humanity.

We had also reported that the Head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis is not out of danger and his health worsened on Saturday evening, says Vatican.

The Pope’s funeral is allegedly being rehearsed after the 88-year-old warned he may not survive pneumonia.

The Swiss Guard protecting the Pope, 88, is rehearsing his funeral, with members under a curfew as they are ‘preparing for the pontiff’s death’, Swiss newspaper Blick claims.