It is suggested that simple ceremonies are enough

Rome ∙ Pope Francis has said that even in eternal sleep, he cannot give up devotion to his mother and after his death, he wants to be buried in the great church of the mother in Rome. The Pope revealed this desire in an interview granted to the Mexican TV channel N Plus. Past popes are usually buried in the Vatican beneath the grottoes of St. Peter's Basilica.

 The Pope, who has a special devotion to Mary, often comes to pray in front of the Madonna image in the great church of the Mother of God in Rome. He also asked that the lengthy ceremonies associated with the burial of the Popes be avoided in his case. It was suggested that it should be as simple as possible.

The 87-year-old Pope made it clear that despite health problems, he is not thinking about retiring now. He will visit Belgium, his native Argentina and the Polynesian countries next year. In his first interview after recovering from severe lung disease, he opened up about his thoughts on burial and retirement. Pope Francis has previously expressed his desire to live outside the Vatican in a clerical nursing home in Rome if he retires.