Pope Leo XIV made his first trip outside the Vatican this Saturday (10). In the morning, the pontiff went to a small town to the east of Rome to visit a Catholic sanctuary. On the way back, Leão also took the opportunity to go to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior to pay tribute to the grave of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
Leo waved on the side of the passenger of a Volkswagen upon arriving at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior in Rome. Entering the church under some shouts of “long life to the Pope,” the pontiff walked slowly to Francis’ grave, depositing a white flower over him.
Then he knelt in prayer for a moment.
Leo made the trip to Santa Maria Maior after, where he had previously visited a sanctuary dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Former American Cardeal Robert Prevost, was elected Pope on May 8. He is a member of the religious order, which manages the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Council in Genazzano.
Pope squeezed his hands and offered some people in the crowd before entering the sanctuary.
At the end of the visit, the Pope told those who wanted to pray for guidance in the early days of his papacy, according to a Vatican statement.
The late Pope Francis, who died on April 21, made a surprise visits to Catholic places near Rome quite often. He asked to be buried in Santa Maria Maior, in a simple tomb, decorated only with the inscription of the word “Francis”, his name in Latin.
Francis had a special devotion to the Basilica, another Marian sanctuary. In the early days after his burial, more than 30,000 people filled the church to visit their final rest.
