On October 6, ahead of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, Pope Leo XIV presided over First Vespers at Domus Australia, located in the heart of Rome.
This religious guesthouse mainly welcomes Australians and English-speaking pilgrims and tourists visiting the capital.
Upon his arrival, he was greeted by local residents and Father Joseph, the rector of the Domus.
Inside the church, there were representatives from the Australian community and Cardinal Raymond Burke, as well as the American Ambassador, Brian Burch, and his wife.
During the celebration, the Pope expressed his joy at participating in this solemn occasion and reminded those present of the importance of devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary.
The ceremony included the blessing of a restored image of Our Lady of Pompeii, which had been donated to the chapel decades ago by the future saint Bartolo Longo. Thanks to it, the number of faithful praying the Rosary in Pompeii grew significantly after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Pope Leo XIV emphasized his hope that the image would inspire greater devotion among both residents of the Domus and the pilgrims who visit. With this blessing, the celebration came to a close.
BAM
Trans. CRT
