Pope Francis, who served as head of the Catholic Church for 12 years, died on April 21 at age 88 and was buried Saturday, becoming the first pope in nearly a century laid to rest outside the Vatican. He requested a simple grave in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.
Known for his humility, Francis rejected the papal palace and salary, preferring modest living and championing a progressive vision for the Church. Over 250,000 mourners visited his body at St. Peter’s Basilica, and an estimated 400,000 lined the streets for his funeral, which was attended by world leaders including Donald and Melania Trump.
