Pope Francis’ Tomb Unexpectedly Digs Up Discernment For Its Awkward Kerning
Image via Marco Iacobucci | Dreamstime.com and Vatican News
Pope Francis’s final resting place has become an unlikely moment of reflection… for typography nerds. The tomb, quietly unveiled at the Basilica of St Mary Major in Rome, bears a stark and humble inscription: “Franciscus.”
And while the content fits the late pontiff’s well-known preference for simplicity, the execution, purportedly set in Times New Roman, has raised eyebrows. It seems that the spacing between the letters, particularly the gap between “F” and “R,” has left some questioning whether this is divinely by design.
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Observers have pointed out that the kerning appears disjointed, with some commenting it resembles “F R A NCISCVS” rather than a cohesive word.
"FR A NCISC VS"
— Jeroen Wiert Pluimers @[email protected] (@jpluimers) April 27, 2025
Mumbles about kerning.
Photo via https://t.co/MZAjIwKG5C pic.twitter.com/s3IKzn46lB
Fast Company cites Cheryl Jacobsen, a calligrapher and professor at the University of Iowa, who has labeled the layout “horrifically bad,” while Christopher Calderhead of Letter Arts Review calls the choice of typeface “lazy,” arguing it clashes with the gravitas of a papal tomb.
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Times New Roman, a ubiquitous digital typeface, was never intended to be carved in stone. The typography experts say the inscription lacks the hand-crafted nuance typical of Roman capital lettering traditionally used in ecclesiastical and classical monuments. By contrast, the tombs of John Paul II and Benedict XVI offer more symmetrical engravings.
As a saving grace, some suggest that the tomb’s visual shortcomings are justifiable. Made from Ligurian slate, nicknamed “the people’s stone,” the simple slab is consistent with Francis’s lifelong ethos: modesty over majesty. The omission of honorifics, dates, and Latin titles reinforces his belief in humility and approachability. The design also includes a carved version of his pectoral cross, depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd, a symbol that encapsulates his pastoral philosophy more than any serif font ever could.
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[via CathNews, kottke.org, Fast Company, Aleteia, cover image via Marco Iacobucci | Dreamstime.com and Vatican News]
