The Vatican Necropolis lies under the Vatican City, at depths varying between 5–12 metres below Saint Peter's Basilica. The Vatican sponsored archaeological excavations (also known by their Italian name scavi) under Saint Peter's in the years 1940–1949 which revealed parts of a necropolis dating to Imperial times.
The dead bodies of 3 popes and one Russian saint are preserved and kept on display in the basilica. More surprisingly, though, there are 201 popes buried beneath the church!
Only one pope in the last century has not been laid to rest at St.Peter's Basilica. Pius XI was buried in the Chapel of Saint Sebastian after his death in 1939. In all, there have been more than 260 Popes since St Peter, who is buried close to the Grottoes in the Vatican Necropolis.
The Vatican just announced that the pope emeritus has been buried in his tomb in the Vatican Grottoes. Our photographers captured the grandeur and solemnity of Benedict's funeral at St. Peter's Basilica on Thursday.
The Basilica di Santa Croce is a minor basilica and the principal Franciscan church of Florence, Italy. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres southeast of the Duomo, on what was once marshland beyond the city walls.