A Visual Representation of Pope Francis's Last Willl
On April 21, 2025, the world said farewell to Pope Francis, a spiritual leader known for his humility, compassion, and simplicity. Shortly after his passing, the Vatican News published the contents of his spiritual testament, dated June 29, 2022.
While not a legal Will in the traditional sense, his testament included personal requests and reflections — most notably, his funeral wishes. To help illustrate what was included (and what wasn’t), we’ve used Will Hero to create a visual representation of Pope Francis’s Will based on what was publicly released.
Overview of Pope Francis's Will
No Beneficiaries
Pope Francis did not name any beneficiaries or heirs in his Will. This is uncommon — and not recommended for most people — but it reflects a specific context:
Pope Francis took a vow of poverty when he became a Jesuit. As such, he didn’t personally own assets, and Popes traditionally do not have heirs or estates to distribute.
No Executors or Key Roles
No Executor was named, nor were there any Guardians or Pet Guardians. Again, this reflects the nature of a Papal testament:
Pope Francis was celibate (due to his vow of celibacy), so he had no children.
He had no pets or dependents.
The absence of an Executor is not considered best practice for most people, as an Executor is usually responsible for managing the estate and carrying out the Will.
Funeral Wishes
This was the key element of his testament:
Pope Francis asked to be buried in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major — a church of deep personal devotion, where he frequently prayed before and after apostolic trips.
He requested a simple tomb, marked only with the inscription “Franciscus.”
He stated that the cost of the burial would be covered by a benefactor, whose donation had already been arranged.
These instructions were entrusted to Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Basilica, who was responsible for ensuring the burial arrangements were carried out.
Summary of Pope Francis Will
Pope Francis’s Will was simple — simpler than most.
He included no distribution of assets, no appointed Executor, and only one set of clear instructions: his burial.
But unless you’re the Pope, we strongly recommend:
1. Appointing an Executor
2. Naming your residual estate beneficiaries
3. Including clear instructions for any gifts, guardians, or funeral wishes
Do You Need to Create Your Will?
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