'I wanted so much to come here': Pope Leo visits Marian shrine outside of Rome
Pope Leo XIV speaks to the College of Cardinals in Rome, Saturday, May 10, 2025 / Credit: Vatican Media
CNA Deutsch, May 10, 2025 / 13:42 pm (CNA).
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday visited and prayed at a Marian shrine outside of Rome, greeting the community there and urging them to "be faithful to the Mother."
The Holy Father visited the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano on Saturday afternoon. The sanctuary, located about an hour east of Rome, is run by the religious of the Order of St. Augustine and "houses an ancient image of the Virgin, dear to the Order and to the memory of Leo XIII," according to the Vatican.
The pope greeted the religious at the shrine before praying at both the altar and the Marian image there, according to the Vatican. The Holy Father also prayed St. John Paul II's prayer to the Mother of Good Counsel with the assembly.
Photos shared on social media showed the Holy Father visiting the shrine and praying.
....intanto il Papa zitto zitto se ne va a Genazzano e sorprende tutti, non la troupe di @Mediaset #Prevost #Papa pic.twitter.com/UNhWlYyQpY
— Carmelo Sardo (@CarmeloSardo) May 10, 2025
📸 Esclusiva!
🇻🇦 La prima visita fuori dal Vaticano di Leone XIV è stata un atto di fede e affidamento: il Pontefice si è recato oggi in silenziosa preghiera al Santuario della Madonna del Buon Consiglio di Genazzano 🙏💙
🕊️Nessun clamore. Solo un cuore di figlio che si affida e… pic.twitter.com/Q4veCIK2Fv
— Silere non possum (@silerenonpossum) May 10, 2025
"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," Leo told those present.
The pope told the community that the shrine was "such a great gift" to them.
"As the Mother never abandons her children, you must also be faithful to the Mother," he said. The Holy Father also offered a blessing to those present.
Leo on Saturday also visited the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where he prayed in front of the tomb of Pope Francis, his immediate predecessor.
La preghiera di #PapaLeoneXIV davanti alla tomba di #PapaFrancesco nella Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore, oggi pomeriggio, dopo aver visitato Genazzano e il santuario della Madonna del Buon Consiglio. #VaticanNewsIT pic.twitter.com/lzYFDFsgcI
— Vatican News (@vaticannews_it) May 10, 2025
Francis is one of eight popes buried in the papal basilica.