Pope Leo visits Basilica of St. Mary Main; prays at Pope Francis' tomb

[ad_1] On his solution to Castel Gandolfo, the Pope stopped on the Basilica of St. Mary Main to wish on the tomb of his predecessor and in entrance of the picture of Salus Populi Romani.

Salvatore Cernuzio

Earlier than heading to Castel Gandolfo for his customary weekly day of relaxation, Pope Leo XIV stopped at round 8:05 p.m. this night on the Basilica of St. Mary Main to wish earlier than the tomb of Pope Francis.

On the marble slab—the place a white rose is at all times positioned in reminiscence of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a continuing religious presence within the lifetime of the Argentine pontiff—Pope Leo laid a bouquet of white roses. It was a gesture of homage to his predecessor, buried between the Sforza Chapel and the Pauline Chapel. The latter is residence to the icon of Salus Populi Romani, so typically visited by Pope Francis earlier than and after every worldwide journey or hospital keep.

Based on the Holy See Press Workplace, Pope Leo additionally paused in prayer in entrance of the Marian picture earlier than leaving the basilica round 8:15 p.m. and persevering with his journey to Castel Gandolfo.

Pope Leo on the tomb of his predecessor

Mass in suffrage for Pope Francis Earlier within the day, Pope Leo had celebrated a Mass on the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica in suffrage for Pope Francis and the cardinals and bishops who had handed away over the previous 12 months.

With “nice affection,” the Holy Father provided the Mass for his predecessor, who, he recalled in his homily, “died after opening the Holy Door and imparting the Easter Blessing to Rome and the entire world. Due to the Jubilee, this celebration—my first—takes on a particular that means: it carries the flavour of Christian hope.”

Pope Leo prays in entrance of the picture of Salus Populi Romani

This hope, Pope Leo added later in his reflection, was one which Pope Francis and the opposite prelates who've died in current months “lived, witnessed, and taught.”

Earlier visits to the tomb on the Basilica of St. Mary Main On 10 Might, simply two days after his election to the See of Peter, Pope Leo visited the Argentine pontiff’s tomb, which is visited every day by quite a few trustworthy and pilgrims. That afternoon, the newly elected Pope laid flowers on the tomb and paused for a couple of moments in prayer. He did the identical once more on 22 June, following the procession for the Solemnity of the Most Holy Physique and Blood of Christ, from St. John Lateran to the Basilica of St. Mary Main.