To kick off the Marian month of May, Pope Francis visited the Madonna del Divino Amore Sanctuary (Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love) in the south of Rome. In front of the image Our Lady of the Miracle, he prayed a rosary, with the intention for peace in Syria.
The pope prayed the prayer silently and reverently.
He then blessed a smaller image of Our Lady of the Miracle and presented a beautiful chalice to the Shrine.
After the prayer, Pope Francis went to greet the 24 elderly residents at the House of Repose of Divine Love. Then, he also went to visit those at the Family House of Mater Divini Amoris, where the Congregation of the Sons of Divine Love care for children and infants.
The children presented the pontiff the many drawings and paintings they had prepared for him. Then, they gathered around him, hugging him and speaking to him.
He then went to greet the hundreds of pilgrims who were waiting for him and prayed a Hail Mary with them.
POPE FRANCIS
“Thanks so much. Now, I would like to give you a blessing. Let's pray together to Our Lady. Hail Mary... The blessing of the omnipotent God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Please don't forget to pray for me. Good afternoon.”
Upon saying goodbye, he returned to Rome in a Ford Focus. It was the first time Pope Francis had visited this pilgrimage site, which has been around since the 1740s. It was created when a man was rescued from a pack of angry dogs after he prayed to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
