Many of the cardinals who had attended Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter's Square the previous day went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major on the afternoon of Sunday, April 27, 2025, to pray before the tomb of the deceased pope. St. Mary Major opened to the faithful Sunday morning at 7 a.m., and crowds immediately flocked to the tomb.
More than 110 cardinals arrived by bus to Termini Station, which is near St. Mary Major, and had a time of prayer together with Mary and the tomb of the late pope.
The more than 110 cardinals present, who arrived by bus at the basilica near Termini station after attending the second Mass of the “novendiales” in St. Peter's Square in the morning, all passed before the tomb of Pope Francis, each taking a brief moment to pray.
ANDREW MEDICHINI | AFP
They then went to pray before the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani, before which Pope Francis liked to pause in prayer. He visited it 126 times during his pontificate, for the last time on April 12, on the eve of Holy Week and nine days before his death.
The cardinals then took part in prayer in the nave with the many faithful present, in an atmosphere of profound recollection.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI | AFP
The cardinals celebrated Vespers on this Sunday of Divine Mercy, a liturgical feast instituted in the year 2000 by John Paul II for the second Sunday of Easter.
United with John Paul II
It was on the vigil of this feast day that the Polish pope died in 2005 and on this feast that he was canonized on April 27, 2014, exactly 11 years ago today.
The liturgy — without a homily — was presided over by Lithuanian Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of St. Mary Major. One of the prayer intentions was “for Pope Francis: that the risen Lord may welcome him into the dwelling place of light and peace.”
The basilica remained open during the celebration, with the faithful continuing to file past Pope Francis' tomb and go to confession.
ALBERTO PIZZOLI | AFP
A few cardinals agreed to speak to the journalists present. Irish Cardinal Sean Brady said the atmosphere was “excellent” in this phase of preparation for the conclave. The 85-year-old former Primate of Ireland will not participate in the conclave as such, as he has exceeded the age limit of 80 to be an elector, but he is taking part in the general congregations to help draw up a “profile” of the next pope.
