Newly Elected Pope Leo XIV Visits Marian Shrine and Honors Predecessor Pope Francis in First Journey Outside Vatican
On May 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV, formerly U.S. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, made his first journey outside the Vatican to the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy. The visit, two days after his election, highlighted his Augustinian roots and devotion to the Virgin Mary. He also visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to pray at the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis. These acts underscored his commitment to Marian devotion and continuity with previous pontificates.
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05/11 09:24
Newly Elected Pope Leo XIV Visits Marian Shrine and Honors Predecessor Pope Francis in First Journey Outside Vatican
On May 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV, formerly U.S. Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, made his first journey outside the Vatican to the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy. The visit, two days after his election, highlighted his Augustinian roots and devotion to the Virgin Mary. He also visited the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome to pray at the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis. These acts underscored his commitment to Marian devotion and continuity with previous pontificates.
A Pilgrimage to Genazzano
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Genazzano around 4:00 PM local time, riding in the front passenger seat of a Volkswagen multivan. The streets of the small town, located about an hour’s drive from Rome, were filled with hundreds of faithful who greeted the pontiff with cheers of “Leone, Leone” and “Viva il Papa.” Residents leaned from windows and balconies to catch a glimpse of the new pope.
The Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel, operated by the Augustinian Order since the 13th century, holds a revered image of the Virgin Mary believed to have originated from Shkodër, Albania. The sanctuary has long been a place of pilgrimage and devotion, particularly for members of the Augustinian community, to which Pope Leo XIV belongs.
Upon entering the church, the pope greeted the Augustinian religious and paused in prayer before the altar and the image of the Virgin. He then joined those present in reciting a prayer composed by Pope St. John Paul II to the Mother of Good Counsel. In a brief address, Pope Leo said, “I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry that the Church has entrusted to me, to carry out this mission as the Successor of Peter.”
He reiterated his trust in the Virgin Mary, quoting her words from the Wedding at Cana: “Whatever He tells you, do it.” The pope also recalled his previous visit to the shrine on April 25, 2024, when, as Cardinal Prevost, he celebrated Mass and expressed his devotion to Mary, encouraging the faithful to be instruments of peace and reconciliation.
Following the prayer, Pope Leo held a private meeting with the Augustinian community. He described the shrine as “such a great gift” and urged the religious to remain faithful to the Mother, saying, “As the Mother never abandons her children, you must also be faithful to the Mother.”
Honoring Pope Francis at St. Mary Major
On his return to the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV made an unannounced stop at the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The basilica, one of the four major papal basilicas, is also a Marian shrine and held special significance for Pope Francis, who had a deep devotion to the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani, housed there.
Arriving to light cheers of “Viva il Papa,” Pope Leo entered the basilica and walked slowly to the simple tomb of Pope Francis, which bears only the Latin inscription “Franciscus.” He laid a single white flower on the tomb and knelt in silent prayer for several moments.
This was not Pope Leo’s first visit to the tomb. As Cardinal Prevost, he had previously prayed there with fellow cardinals on Divine Mercy Sunday, shortly after the tomb was opened to the public following Pope Francis’ death on April 21, 2025.
The Holy See Press Office confirmed the visit, noting that the pope also paused before the icon of Salus Populi Romani. The gesture underscored the continuity of Marian devotion between the two pontificates and highlighted Pope Leo’s personal reverence for his predecessor.
A Pontiff Rooted in Augustinian Tradition
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago in 1955, is the first pope from the Augustinian Order and the second from the Americas, following Pope Francis. Before his election, he served as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and had a long history of missionary work in Peru. He was elected pope on May 8, 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
His decision to begin his papacy with a visit to a Marian shrine operated by his own religious order reflects both personal devotion and a pastoral commitment to the spiritual heritage of the Church. The shrine in Genazzano was elevated to the status of minor basilica by Pope Leo XIII in 1903, though he never visited it. Other popes, including St. John XXIII in 1959 and St. John Paul II in 1993, have made pilgrimages there.
By choosing Genazzano and St. Mary Major for his first public acts as pope, Leo XIV has signaled a deep continuity with the spiritual priorities of his predecessors, while also grounding his ministry in the traditions of his Augustinian formation.
References
- Pope Leo XIV prays at tomb of late Pope Francis at St. Mary Major - Vatican News
- Pope visits Marian sanctuary outside Rome - Vatican News
- 'I wanted so much to come here': Pope Leo visits Marian shrine outside of Rome
- Pope Leo makes first trip outside Vatican, visits Marian shrine and Pope Francis’ tomb - Tutubi News Magazine
- Pope Leo visits Francis' tomb and Marian shrine
- ADOM :: Biography of Robert Francis Prevost, Pope Leo XIV
