Pope Leo XIV. laid a wreath of white flowers at the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Spanish Square. He joined the celebration of the Marian feast celebrated by the church.
Pope Leo XIV. on Monday he continued a decades-old tradition by placing a wreath of white flowers at the pillar of the statue of the Immaculate Conception in Rome’s Spanish Steps. This was reported by the news website Vatican News. He reminded that the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary on December 8. TASR informs about it according to the report of the DPA agency.
The Pope used the popemobile to travel from the Vatican to Rome. He was welcomed by the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, and the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, in Spanish Square. Subsequently, the Pope offered a prayer for peace, justice, dignity and spiritual guidance for people around the world, but also for the courage, hopes, dreams and visions of humanity, which feels inadequately prepared or weak in times of change.
Meeting people
Before returning to the Vatican, the Pope greeted the gathered approximately 30,000 people, including children, the elderly and the sick, whom he also greeted personally.
The APA agency added that strict security measures were in place during the papal visit to Rome.
Historical traditions
Pope Pius XII started sending flowers to the statue of the Virgin Mary in Spanish Square in Rome. A few years later, in 1958, Pope John XXIII followed his example, placing a basket of white roses next to the statue.
The Marian column was built in 1856 to commemorate the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, which was proclaimed two years earlier by Pope Pius IX. With this statement he raised the belief prevalent since early Christianity to the level of dogma. He claims that Mary was saved from original sin when she was conceived in the life of her mother, Saint Anne.
