Although the Pope decided to return to Castel Gandolfo for a second vacation, his busy schedule has not diminished, having many surprise visits.
Pope Leo traveled by car to a town in the neighboring diocese of Palestrina. There he visited one of the Marian shrines that inspired the greatest devotion among his predecessor, Pope Saint John Paul II.
It is that of Our Lady of Grace, a shrine run by Polish religious groups and located on the top of a mountain. It is the highest inhabited place in the Lazio region.
The cave where Saint Benedict retired to devote himself to prayer, just as Saint Gregory the Great did years later, is still preserved there.
After a long journey, the religious groups showed Pope Leo this chalice.
-You told me the chalice...
-Yes. Here, here, here. The chalice was the gift of John Paul II, who rushed it 13 days after his election. We left it a little longer... 100 days...
With this visit, three pontiffs have now been to this place: Pope Innocent XIII, Pope Saint John Paul II, and now Pope Leo XIV.
AM
TR: GS
