Pope walks through Rome to pray for end of pandemic

Salus Populi Romani

Source: Vatican News

On Sunday afternoon, Pope Francis walked through the empty streets of Rome to two important pilgrimage sites, to pray for the city and the world, in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak. Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said the Holy Father first went to the Basilica of St Mary Major, to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani. Then, after walking along the Via del Corso - he visited the church of San Marcello on the Corso, where a miraculous crucifix is kept.

Bruni said: "In 1522 it was carried in procession throughout the neighbourhoods of the city so that the 'Great Plague' might cease in Rome. With his prayer, the Holy Father pleaded for an end to the pandemic that has struck Italy and the world. He also implored the healing of the many sick people, remembered the numerous victims of these past days, and asked that their families and friends might find consolation and comfort. His prayer intention was also extended to healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, and all those working in these days to guarantee the smooth functioning of society. The Holy Father returned to the Vatican around 5.30."

Pope Francis has a special devotion to Our Lady Salus Populi Romani. He visits her icon on major Marian feast days, and also visits the shrine before and after his international Apostolic Journeys. In 593 Pope St. Gregory the Great carried the icon in procession to stop a plague. And in 1837 Pope Gregory XVI invoked her to put an end to a cholera epidemic.

The 15th century wooden crucifix in the church of San Marcello on the Corso has been associated with many miraculous events. On 23 May 1519, a large fire completely destroyed the entire church but the crucifix from the main altar survived untouched, with an oil lamp still burning at its base. The people of Rome were so touched by this scene,several began to meet every Friday evening to pray. Pope Leo X ordered the rebuilding of the church in 1519.

Three years after the fire, Rome was hit by the 'Great Plague'. The faithful carried the crucifix in procession - in spite of the bans put in place by the authorities to halt the spread of the contagion. The crucifix was carried through the streets of Rome toward St Peter's Basilica. The procession lasted 16 days: from 4 to 20 August 1522. As it progressed, the plague showed signs of retreating, and every neighbourhood sought to keep the crucifix as long as possible. Finally, as the crucifix reentered the church, the plague ceased altogether.

Since 1600, the procession from the church of San Marcello to St Peter's Basilica has been a tradition repeated during Holy Years. The names of the Popes who called each Jubilee are inscribed on the back of the crucifix, along with the year.

Pope St John Paul II embraced that same crucifix to mark the culmination of the Day of Forgiveness during the Jubilee Year of 2000.

Pope Francis was accompanied by Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Archpriest of the Basilica and Fr Elio Lops from the vicariate of Rome on his walk.

Watch a brief film clip here: www.facebook.com/watch/?v=811646989344012