The new Pope traveled outside the Vatican walls for the first time on May 10, two days after his election. He visited the tomb of his predecessor, Francis, and the Shrine of the Salus Populi Romani

Pope Leo lays a single white rose at the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis, in Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome, on May 10, two days after his election as Pope.

By Robert Moynihan

On Thursday, May 8, the papal conclave ended with white smoke at 6:07 in the evening, and an hour later, Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the central loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica, the first Pope from the United States of America, having been elected on the 4th ballot, receiving, it was reported in Italy, more than 100 votes.  

Two days later, Pope Leo took his first trip outside of the Vatican… 

Leo XIV Prays at Tomb of Late Pope Francis at St. Mary Major

On the way back to the Vatican from Genazzano, Pope Leo XIV stopped at St. Mary Major, where he paused in prayer before the tomb of Pope Francis and the icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani, the Holy See Press Office reported May 10.

The last time Pope Leo XIV had prayed at the tomb of the late Pope was during the late afternoon of the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday.

On that day, then-Cardinal Robert Prevost, along with members of the College of Cardinals, went to the papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray at Francis’ tomb that had just been opened to the public.

Deborah Castellano Lubov (Vatican News)

The Salus Populi Romani Icon in St. Mary Major

Pope Francis in 2013 in front of the icon of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani

The Salus Populi Romani is an icon painted on cedarwood which arrived in Rome in the year 590 AD during the reign of Pope Gregory I. Its title in English is literally “Health of the Roman People,” rendered more popularly as “Protector of the Roman People.”

The icon, heavily overpainted, bejewelled and leafed with gold in later centuries, was believed to be a miraculous image. Pope Gregory venerated the image publically, having it carried through the streets of Rome as the people prayed for an end to a plague that was rampant at that time.

Pope Pius V venerated the image in prayer for a victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.

More recently, Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis all venerated the image on several Marian feast days.

Pope visits the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano

Pope Leo prayed at the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, on May 10.

Pope Leo XIV on May 10 paid a visit to the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, just outside Rome, saying he “wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new Ministry… that the Church has entrusted to me.”

For his first trip outside the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV chose to visit the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, just outside Rome.

Pope Leo visited the shrine, which has been run by the Augustinians since 1200, at around 4:00 pm for a private visit.

The shrine is home to an ancient image of the Virgin Mary, which comes from Shkodër (Albania) and was much loved by Pope Leo XIII, who never managed to visit it but did elevate the shrine to the dignity of minor basilica in 1903.

Other Popes had visited the Mother of Good Counsel: John XXIII in 1959 and John Paul II in 1993. Today, however, the visit came from Pope Leo XIV who, as a cardinal, had celebrated Mass at the shrine on April 25, 2024.

In his homily, the then-Cardinal Prevost expressed his devotion to the Virgin, urging the faithful to be inspired by Mary to spread peace and reconciliation in the world.

Pope Leo arrived in a Volkswagen vehicle, seated in the front; he was greeted by a cheering crowd of hundreds of people gathered in the square or looking out of windows and balconies.

Many shouted “Leo, Leo” and the nearby streets filled up.

Entering the church, where he greeted the Augustinian religious, the Pope stopped to pray, first in front of the altar and then in front of the image of the Virgin.

With those present, he recited John Paul II’s prayer to the Mother of Good Counsel.

At the end, after saying a Hail Mary and singing the Salve Regina, the Pope addressed those who were in the church, greeting them and the people gathered outside.

“I wanted so much to come here in these first days of the new Ministry of carrying out the mission of Successor of Peter that the Church has entrusted to me,” he said.

And, recalling the visit he made after his election as Prior General of the Order of St. Augustine, and his choice to “offer his life to the Church,” Leo XIV reierated his “trust in the Mother of Good Counsel,” recalling the words addressed by Mary to the servants at the Wedding at Cana: “Whatever He tells you, do it.”

The Pope then had a private meeting with the Augustinians. (Vatican News)