On return from Philippines, Pope prays at St. Mary Major

January 20, 2015

Following what has become his regular practice, Pope Francis visited the basilica of St. Mary Major on Monday afternoon, January 19, to pray before the image of the Virgin Mary Salus populi Romani after returning from his week-long trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

The Pope arrived at the basilica in the early evening, after his flight from Manila touched down at Ciampino airport outside Rome. He made the visit unannounced, before returning to the Vatican.

Pope Francis made a surprise visit to St. Mary Major on the morning after his election, and since that time he has regularly stopped to pray before the same icon before and after each of his foreign trips.

 

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Further information:

• The Pope thanks the Virgin for the fruits of his apostolic trip (VIS)