Pope Leo XIV made a quiet and heartfelt visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Monday evening, where he paused in prayer before the tomb of Pope Francis and the ancient icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father arrived at the basilica around 8:05 p.m. before departing for Castel Gandolfo, where he typically spends his weekly day of rest. In a moment of tender remembrance, Pope Leo laid a bouquet of white roses upon the marble slab marking his predecessor’s resting place — a site where a single white rose is always placed in honor of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a saint whom Pope Francis held dear throughout his pontificate.
The tomb of Pope Francis lies between the Sforza and Pauline Chapels, the latter housing the Marian image of Salus Populi Romani. This icon, revered for centuries by the faithful of Rome, was frequently visited by Pope Francis before and after each international journey and hospital stay. Pope Leo continued that tradition, pausing once more in prayer before the image before leaving the basilica at approximately 8:15 p.m., according to the Holy See Press Office (Vatican News).
Earlier that same day, Pope Leo presided over a Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica “in suffrage for Pope Francis and the cardinals and bishops who had passed away over the past year.” During his homily, the Pope spoke with “great affection,” offering the Mass for the soul of his predecessor, recalling that Pope Francis “died after opening the Holy Door and imparting the Easter Blessing to Rome and the whole world.”
“Thanks to the Jubilee, this celebration—my first—takes on a special meaning,” Pope Leo said. “It carries the flavor of Christian hope.” He added that this hope was one “that Pope Francis and the other prelates who have died in recent months lived, witnessed, and taught.”
This latest act of devotion marks Pope Leo’s third visit to the tomb of Pope Francis since his election. His first occurred on May 10, only two days after assuming the See of Peter, and another followed on June 22, after the Corpus Christi procession from St. John Lateran to St. Mary Major.
Through his prayers and gestures of remembrance, Pope Leo continues to honor the legacy of his predecessor, linking his own pontificate to the Marian devotion and spirit of humility that defined the papacy of Pope Francis.
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