The largest St Mary's Basilica in Rome is one of the churches most frequently visited by the Pope and also the place where he wishes to be buried.
As the Vatican press office announced on Wednesday, Francis appointed the Lithuanian Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas (52) as coadjutor archpriest with the right of succession.
The archpriest of the basilica is the Polish Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko (78).
Francis appointed Makrickas as "extraordinary commissioner" for the troubled basilica in December 2021.
He also had the task of "reorganising" the life of the chapter of clergy belonging to the basilica.
In a "hand letter" also published on Wednesday, the Pope has now cancelled the special administration and at the same time issued extensive statutes for the church and its chapter.
The clergy are to focus primarily on Marian devotion, confession and liturgy; they are to cultivate Gregorian chants and Latin services.
The Pope confirmed the historical curiosity that the King of Spain is also the highest-ranking canon of honour of the basilica.
He halved the number of chapter members (canons) to twelve.
The statute precisely regulates the management of the income from the property and financial assets belonging to the basilica as well as the salaries of the canons.
The chapter of the basilica remained a separate ecclesiastical body, but was "affiliated" to the Holy See.
The government of the Vatican State is responsible for public order and construction.
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of four papal basilicas in Rome.
Benedict XVI last reorganised the legal status of the papal basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in 2005.