Celebrations in memory of Pope Francis

Tomb of Pope Francis at the Basilica of St Mary Major - ICN/JS

Source: Vatican Media

It has been a year since the death of Pope Francis, which occurred at Casa Santa Marta at 7.35am on April 21, 2025.

Five days later, his funeral took place, and his mortal remains, according to his wishes, have since rested in the Marian Basilica of St Mary Major, which is preparing to solemnly mark the anniversary.

On Tuesday, April 21, the first anniversary of the death of Pope Francis, Vatican News will broadcast a live Rosary and Mass at the Basilica of St Mary Major and release a documentary to recall the late Argentine Pope.

The tribute will begin with a recitation of the rosary at 5pm in the Pauline Chapel, where Pope Francis visited dozens of times.

Afterwards, on the right side of the Chapel, a commemorative plaque will be unveiled to honour the special bond between Pope Francis and the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani.

The bronze plaque bears a Latin inscription of 160 characters in two different sizes, which reads: "Francis Supreme Pontiff, who paused 126 times in devout prayer at the feet of the Salus Populi Romani; according to his will, rests in this Papal Basilica."

After the Rosary, at 6pm Rome time, the Mass will be celebrated, during which a message from Pope Leo XIV, currently on his Apostolic Journey in Africa, will be read.

The celebration will be shown on the large screen in front of the Basilica, in St Mary Major Square, and streamed on Vatican News via this link: www.youtube.com/live/Eis68dPfNSc

For the anniversary, Vatican News will release a 26-minute documentary - subtitled in Italian, English, and Spanish - which, through archival footage and symbolic sequences, recounts the pontificate of 'the Pope of mercy' and 'the Pope of the peripheries,' highlighting his most emblematic expressions and gestures.

In London at 6pm, a special Mass for the Care of Creation, commemorating Pope Francis, will take place at Farm Street Church, followed by talk on art and nature with slides. See: www.indcatholicnews.com/news/54827