How many Popes are buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, which ones in St. Mary Major and which ones outside Rome?

St. Peter’s Basilica, including the Vatican Grottoes (the underground crypt where many popes are buried), currently houses the remains of approximately 91 popes of Rome.

This number, which is not 100% accurate and includes some historical doubts and transfers, is widely accepted by scholars and official Vatican records. In fact, the tradition of burying popes in St. Peter’s Basilica dates back to the fourth century.

The remains of other popes buried in Rome

However, despite the importance of St. Peter’s Basilica, the oldest and highest-ranking basilica in Rome is St. John Lateran. In fact, the last pope to choose to be buried outside of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Grottoes was Leo XIII (1903). The basilica houses the remains of as many as 22 popes.

Santa Maria Maggiore is the third of Rome’s papal basilicas and the burial place chosen by Pope Francis. The basilica also houses the tombs of Honorius III, Nicholas IV, Saint Pius V, Sixtus V, Paul V, Clement VIII, and Clement IX.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls contains the remains of two popes: Felix III and John XIII, while John XVIII died in 1009 in the basilica’s monastery.

The Church of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls is the basilica built over the remains of the deacon Lawrence. Pius IX felt a great attachment to the site and was buried there. Four other popes are also buried in the basilica, almost all during the 5th century. In addition, five popes, including two Medici pontiffs, Leo X and Clement VII, are buried in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Pope Clement XIV is also buried in the Basilica of the Holy Twelve Apostles in Rome.

The Church of Santa Maria in Monserrato degli Spagnolis houses the two popes of the Borgia dynasty, of Valencian origin, Callixtus III and Alexander VI, whose remains were united in a single tomb in 1881.

Popes not buried in Rome

It is estimated that more than 100 popes are buried outside of Rome. Among them are: Gregory XII (1406-1415), buried in the Cathedral of Recanati, in the Marche region; Saint Celestine V, buried in the Basilica of Collemaggio in L’Aquila; Blessed Gregory X in Arezzo; Saint Gregory VII in Salerno; and Saint Adeodatus I in Cinto Euganeo, in Veneto. Perugia Cathedral houses the tombs of Martin IV and Urban IV, while Benedict XI is buried in the Basilica of St. Dominic.

Outside of Italy, the country with the most pontiffs buried is France, due to the papacy’s exile in Avignon. Benedict XII and John XXII are buried in Avignon, France, while the tomb of Clement II is located in Bamberg Cathedral, Germany.

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