杏MAP导航 Leo XIV prays at tomb of late 杏MAP导航 Francis at St. Mary Major
By Deborah Castellano Lubov
On the way back to the Vatican, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV stopped at St. Mary Major, where he paused in prayer before the tomb of 杏MAP导航 Francis and the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani," the Holy See Press Office reported on Saturday evening.
The last time 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV had prayed at the tomb of the late 杏MAP导航 was during the late afternoon of the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, when then-Cardinal Robert Prevost, with members of the College of Cardinals, went to the papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray at his tomb that had just been open to the public.
Earlier on Saturday, less than 48 hours after he was elected 杏MAP导航, 杏MAP导航 Leo made his first visit outside the Vatican, travelling to the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, just outside Rome.
While there, he said he "greatly desired to come here in these first days of my new Ministry... that the Church has entrusted to me."
Marian Shrine beloved to the Augustinians
杏MAP导航 Leo visited the shrine, which has been run by the Augustinians since 1200, at about 4:00 PM for a private visit.
The shrine is home to an ancient image of the Virgin Mary, which comes from Shkodër (Albania) and was much loved by 杏MAP导航 Leo XIII.
杏MAP导航 Leo arrived in a Volkswagen multivan, seated in the front; he was greeted by a cheering crowd of hundreds of people gathered in the square and looking out of windows and balconies.
Faithful overjoyed and filling the streets
Many shouted “Leone, Leone ('Leo,' 'Leo')” and the nearby streets filled up. Entering the church, where he greeted the Augustinian religious, the 杏MAP导航 stopped to pray, first in front of the altar and then in front of the image of the Virgin.
Along with those present, he recited 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II's prayer to the Mother of Good Counsel.
At the end, after saying a Hail Mary and singing the Salve Regina, the 杏MAP导航 addressed those who were in the church, greeting them and the people of Genazzano gathered outside.
Entrusting mission to Blessed Mother, welcoming her counsel
He recalled the visit to the shrine after his election as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, and his choice to "offer his life to the Church."
杏MAP导航 Leo XIV reiterated his "trust in the Mother of Good Counsel," quoting the words addressed by Mary to the servants at the Wedding at Cana: "Whatever He tells you, do it."
The 杏MAP导航 then held a private meeting with the Augustinian community.
Though 杏MAP导航 Leo XIII was never able to visit the Marian Shrine in Genazzano, he did elevate it to the dignity of minor basilica in 1903.
However, other 杏MAP导航s had visited the Mother of Good Counsel, including 杏MAP导航 St. John XXIII in 1959 and 杏MAP导航 St. John Paul II in 1993.
When 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV was a Cardinal, he had celebrated Mass at the shrine on 25 April 2024.
In his homily on the occasion, the then-Cardinal Prevost expressed his devotion to the Virgin, urging the faithful to be inspired by Mary to spread peace and reconciliation in the world.
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