Pope Francis goes on ‘walking pilgrimage,’ prays for an end of COVID-19 pandemic — report

Pope Francis reportedly went on a “walking pilgrimage” in Rome, Italy on Sunday.

According to the Catholic News Agency (CNA), the 83-year-old pontiff “prayed for an end to the coronavirus pandemic during a surprise visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major and a cross that traversed Rome during a 16th century plague.”

 

 

 

 

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EN: Mary 'Salus Populi Romani' in the Basilica of St. Mary Major and the miraculous crucifix in San Marcello on the Corso. #praytogether PT: A Virgem 'Salus populi Romani' na Basílica de Santa Maria Maior e o Crucifixo milagroso na igreja de São Marcelo 'al Corso'. #rezemosjuntos ES: La Virgen ‘Salus Populi Romani’ en la basílica de Santa María la Mayor y el Crucifijo milagroso en la iglesis de San Maracelo en el Corso. #oremosjuntos IT: Vergine ‘Salus populi Romani’ nella Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore e Crocifisso miracoloso nella chiesa di San Marcello al Corso. #preghiamoinsieme FR: Marie, Salus populi Romani, en la Basilique Sainte Marie Majeure et le Crucifix miraculeux en l'église San Marcello al Corso. #prionsensemble DE: Jungfrau 'Salus populi Romani' in der Basilika von Santa Maria Maggiore und das wundertätige Kruzifix in der Kirche San Marcello al Corso in Rom. #betenwirgeimeinsam

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Mar 15, 2020 at 11:59am PDT

?The Pope went to the Basilica to visit the icon of Salus Populi Romani, Mary Protection of the Roman People, “to invoke her prayers against the coronavirus pandemic affecting Italy and the world,” the CNA said, citing information from the Vatican.

The CNA also spoke to a priest of the vicariate of Rome, Fr. Elio Lops, who said Pope Francis was accompanied by the Archpriest of the basilica, Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko.

According to Lops, the pope “prayed silently before the icon for about 20 minutes and also stopped briefly at the chapel of the crucifix.”

The report says Pope Francis “walked about half a mile on foot” from the Basilica to the Church of San Marcello al Corso, to pray before a crucifix believed to have been carried in procession through the streets of Rome during the plague of 1522.

The EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network shared videos and photos from this visit on Twitter.
 

???? March 15 | #PopeFrancis visited San Marcello al Corso to pray for the end of the #coronavirus pandemic. He prayed in front of the same cross carried through #Rome in 1522 to end the “Great Plague.”

PC: #Vatican Media pic.twitter.com/WT5n5zoBAH

— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) March 15, 2020

#PopeFrancis visits the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore and Church of San Marcello al Corso, in an empty #Rome where he prays before a Marian icon believed to be painted by St. Luke and a crucifix of Our Lord Jesus both vital to ending plagues in Rome’s history #CoronaVirusitaly pic.twitter.com/SkmHE8YTlj

— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) March 15, 2020

Quoting a Vatican statement, Pope Francis “implored healing for the many sick, remembered the many victims of these days, and asked that their family and friends find consolation and comfort.”

The report added: “the Pope also prayed for healthcare workers, doctors, nurses, and those working to keep society functioning while many are under forced or voluntary quarantine.”

“It was all a surprise,” Lops was quoted as saying.

The priest added that Francis “had wanted to go to the Basilica of St. Mary Major on March 13, the seventh anniversary of his pontificate, but being unable to, had told Cardinal Rylko he would come at another, unspecified time.”

Italy is currently under lockdown as the country recorded a swell of COVID-19 cases.

A total of 24,747 cases and 1,809 deaths have been reported in Italy as of Sunday.

The Vatican has cancelled the public’s participation at Pope Francis’s Easter events in light of the coronavirus situation. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News