Pope Francis Arrives Safely Back in Rome after a Successful Trip to Malta and Thanks Our Lady for her Protection
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Pope Francis arrived safely back in Rome after his 2-day visit to Malta. As per his custom, Pope Francis prayed before the Roman icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani in thanks to Our Lady for her maternal protection.
The icon is located in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis visited the Papal Basilica to pray.
The Pope also placed a bouquet of flowers on the altar below Our Lady’s icon in the Borghese Chapel.
He then returned by car to his home at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Tradition has it that the icon of Mary “Salvation of the Roman Peoples” arrived in Rome during the reign of Pope St. Gregory the Great, sometime around 590 AD, though its origins date back much further.
Pope Gregory XVI crowned the icon in 1838, while Pope Pius XII repeated the gesture of devotion during the Marian year of 1954.
The theme for the visit was "They showed us unusual kindness", and the Holy Father spoke frequently about the need for nations to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants.
Pope Francis spoke against war, calling it “sacrilegious”.
Pope Francis' final public words during his Apostolic Journey to Malta were ones filled with pain:
“I am grieved. We never learn. May the Lord have mercy on us, on all of us. Every one of us is guilty!”
The icon is located in the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis visited the Papal Basilica to pray.
The Pope also placed a bouquet of flowers on the altar below Our Lady’s icon in the Borghese Chapel.
He then returned by car to his home at the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta.
Tradition has it that the icon of Mary “Salvation of the Roman Peoples” arrived in Rome during the reign of Pope St. Gregory the Great, sometime around 590 AD, though its origins date back much further.
Pope Gregory XVI crowned the icon in 1838, while Pope Pius XII repeated the gesture of devotion during the Marian year of 1954.
The theme for the visit was "They showed us unusual kindness", and the Holy Father spoke frequently about the need for nations to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate migrants.
Pope Francis spoke against war, calling it “sacrilegious”.
Pope Francis' final public words during his Apostolic Journey to Malta were ones filled with pain:
“I am grieved. We never learn. May the Lord have mercy on us, on all of us. Every one of us is guilty!”
Edited from Vatican News
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