Pope Leo XIV prays at tomb of Pope Francis

Pope prays at tomb of Pope Francis

Source: Vatican Media

During his first visit outside the Vatican, on Saturday evening, Pope Leo XIV stopped at the Basilica of St Mary Major to pray before the icon of Mary Salus Populi Romani and at the tomb of the late Pope Francis.

The last time Pope Leo XIV had prayed at the tomb of the late Pope 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 Pope, Pope Leo travelled 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."

Pope Leo visited the shrine, which has been run by the Augustinians since 1200, at about 4pm 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 Pope Leo XIII.

Pope 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.

Many shouted "Leone, Leone ('Leo,' 'Leo')" and the nearby streets filled up. Entering the church, where he greeted the Augustinian religious, the Pope 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 Pope 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 Pope addressed those who were in the church, greeting them and the people of Genazzano gathered outside.

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."

Pope 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 Pope then held a private meeting with the Augustinian community.

Though Pope Leo XIII was never able to visit the Marian Shrine in Genazzano, he did elevate it to the dignity of minor basilica in 1903.

Other Popes have visited the Mother of Good Counsel, including Pope St John XXIII in 1959 and Pope St John Paul II in 1993.

When Pope Leo XIV was a Cardinal, he 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.