Santa Maria Maggiore basilica: All you need to know about Pope Francis's final resting place

The Santa Maria Maggiore basilica, which Pope Francis chose as his final resting place, is a fifth-century church located in the centre of Rome that already holds the tombs of seven popes.

The Argentinian pontiff, who died Monday at the age of 88, will be first in more than a century who will not be entombed in St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

Francis was very devoted to the worship of the Virgin Mary and made a point to pray in Santa Maria Maggiore before leaving on trips abroad and upon his return to Rome.

Most recently, Francis prayed to the icon of the Virgin Mary inside the basilica on April 12, to mark the beginning of the Holy Week that culminated in Easter.

Francis declared his desire to be entombed in the basilica -- known in English as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major -- in 2023.

The last pope to be buried there was Clement IX in 1669. And the last pontiff to be buried outside the Vatican was Leo XIII in 1903, whose final resting place is the Church of Saint John Lateran, the Cathedral of the bishop of Rome.

One of four papal basilicas in Rome, Santa Maria Maggiore holds the remains of several other renowned personalities, such as the architect and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed St Peter's Square and its surrounding columns.

Read more: Pope Francis, head of Catholic Church, passes away at 88

The interior of Santa Maria Maggiore remains close to its origins. The central nave is lined by 40 Ionic columns and contains exquisite mosaics.

One legend ties the basilica to the Virgin Mary from its origins. It says that a childless wealthy Roman couple wanted to donate their possessions to the Virgin Mary.

She appeared to them in a vision and told them to build a church in her honour where a miracle would take place. Snow fell that summer night in August 352 on the hill where the basilica now stands.

Another legend has Pope Liberius being told in a dream of the summer snowfall.