The Vatican announced that Pope Francis visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on Saturday to pray before the image of Our Lady of the Rosary, Salus Populi Romani. This the popular custom of Pope Francis is to entrust her with the apostolic journey he will make tomorrow to Corsica (France).
“This evening, on the eve of his trip to Ajaccio for the conclusion of the Congress ‘Popular Religion in the Mediterranean’, Pope Francis paused in prayer before the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major,” the Holy See said.
The Vatican added that upon leaving the chapel, the Pope greeted the participants of the live nativity scene that took place in the Roman basilica, with whom he prayed for a moment.
Tomorrow will be Pope Francis’ 47th apostolic journey, and his third to French territory, following his visits to Strasbourg in 2014 and Marseille in 2023.
The Holy Father will be welcomed by Cardinal François-Xavier Bustillo, who was created a cardinal in 2023 and heads the Diocese of Ajaccio, where more than 80% of the 340,000 inhabitants identify as Catholics.
After closing the congress dedicated to Mediterranean popular religiosity, Pope Francis will celebrate a Mass in the historic Place d’Austerlitz, known locally as “U Casone”.