🌹 Pope Leo XIV Remembers Pope Francis

⚪ On Monday Pope Leo XIV made an unannounced evening stop at the Basilica of St Mary Major on his way to Castel Gandolfo, where he offered a deeply personal tribute to his predecessor, Pope Francis. The Holy Father prayed at the tomb of Pope Francis, laying a bouquet of white roses on the marble slab where a single white rose - honouring St Thérèse of Lisieux - always rests. He then paused in prayer before the revered icon Salus Populi Romani, continuing a devotional tradition closely associated with Pope Francis. Earlier, Pope Leo presided at a Mass in St Peter’s Basilica offered in suffrage for Pope Francis and deceased cardinals and bishops. Reflecting on Christian hope, he recalled that Pope Francis “died after opening the Holy Door and imparting the Easter Blessing to Rome and the world.” 🙏 A moment of quiet remembrance, this visit highlights continuity, gratitude and shared faith between two pontiffs. 👉 Please share and follow us for more Catholic news and uplifting stories. #popeleoxiv #vatican #popefrancis #rome #santamariamaggiore