Pope Francis went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior in Rome, this Saturday (12) to pay tribute to Our Lady before Holy Week, which begins on Sunday of Ramos on April 13.
According to a Vatican statement, the pontiff “stopped in prayer before the Virgin icon, Salus Populi Romani.” After being discharged from the hospital three weeks ago, the Pope stopped in front of the basilica to deliver flowers to the image of the Virgin Mary.
The tribute to the icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani has been a custom of Francis since the beginning of the papacy. The Pope’s last visit to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maior, of the more than 100 held, had been on December 14, 2024.
The Pope left the hospital three weeks after more than a month hospitalized with breathing problems. The doctors prescribed to the 88 -year -old pontiff, two months of rest to allow his body to recover completely, which means he can spend much or the entire Holy Week without appearing to the public.
Holy Week marks the moment when Christians resemble the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Despite his rest, Francisco met on Wednesday (9) with King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla “were delighted that the Pope was well enough to receive them.”
On Thursday (10), the Pontiff made a visit not announced to the São Pedro Basilica in the Vatican. The Pope, waving to the visitors of the Basilica as the assistants pushed his wheelchair, had a small nasal hose to receive supplementary oxygen.
This content was originally published in Papa Francisco makes a new appearance before the beginning of Holy Week on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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