Before going to Piazza Spagna to pay homage to the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis made a stop at the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where the image of the patron saint of Rome, the Salus Populi Romani, is located. He stopped before the image to pray for a few moments and presented her with golden roses.
This was the Pope's first outing after his flu, lung inflammation and respiratory problems that forced him to reduce his schedule for almost two weeks.
JRB
TR: KG
