Pope Leo XIV visits Genazzano Shrine and prays at Pope Francis's Tomb

On Saturday afternoon (May 10), shortly after 4:00 p.m., Pope Leo XIV made a private pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, a cherished Marian sanctuary entrusted to the Augustinian Order. 

The visit marks one of his first significant gestures as pope, reflecting both personal devotion and continuity with his spiritual heritage.

The Holy Father was warmly welcomed by hundreds of faithful gathered in the square outside the sanctuary. Inside the church, he greeted the Augustinian friars before pausing in prayer—first before the altar, and then in silent reverence before the ancient image of the Virgin Mary. Together with those present, he recited the prayer of Pope Saint John Paul II to the Mother of Good Counsel.

Following the Ave Maria and the singing of the Salve Regina, Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful gathered inside and outside the church. 

“I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new ministry that the Church has entrusted to me,” he said, recalling a previous visit to the shrine after his election as Prior General of the Augustinian Order. 

He affirmed his trust in the Mother of Good Counsel, calling her a companion of “light and wisdom,” and reflected on Mary’s words at the wedding at Cana: “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).

The Pope then joined the Augustinian community for a private gathering in an adjoining hall. Before leaving the shrine, he greeted the faithful once more from the basilica’s portal, expressing his joy at being able to pray at such a beloved Marian sanctuary. 

“This is a great gift for the people of Genazzano,” he said, “and with this gift comes great responsibility. Just as the Mother never abandons her children, you too must remain faithful to the Mother.”

He also addressed the youth and the "young at heart," affirming, “We are all young at heart!” and encouraged them to follow Jesus with the same enthusiasm and faith shown by Mary.

Before returning to the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV made an unscheduled visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. There, he stopped to pray silently at the tomb of Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, and also paused in front of the revered Marian icon Salus Populi Romani. 

The quiet act of homage marked a deeply symbolic moment, uniting Marian devotion with a gesture of continuity and gratitude for his predecessor’s legacy.