The Lithuanian cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Arcipreste Coadjtor of the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, will receive this Sunday to Pope Leo XIV when he visits this Marian temple at 7:00 p.m. (local time) to celebrate Mass and pay tribute to the Virgin.
“From the fourteenth century there is this tradition of the potatoes that visit the papal basilicas, and especially the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor, to trust its mission to the Virgin Mary,” says the purple in statements to Ewtn News, a company to which ACI Press belongs.
Receive the main news of ACI Press by WhatsApp and Telegram
It is increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social networks. Subscribe to our free channels today:
The visit of the Pontiff to this Basilica – which Francisco attended more than a hundred times during his pontificate and where his remains rest today – will be marked by the deep Marian devotion that characterizes this place.
Santa María la Mayor is the Sanctuary dedicated to the oldest Maria in the world. Here the most famous Marian icon in the city of Rome is preserved, the Safety of the Roman peoplethat arrived in the city in 590 during the Pontificate of San Gregorio Magno. According to tradition, this image was painted by the Apostle San Lucas and was revered by the first Christians.
“The Pope has to have Pedro and Paul in mind, but in the heart to Mary,” explains Makrickas, who was created Cardinal by the Argentine Pontiff in December 2024.
The inauguration of Santa María la Mayor is one of the stages at the beginning of the pontificate, which officially began with the Mass held last Sunday, May 18.
This Tuesday, the Pope took possession of the Basilica of San Pablo Extramuros. On Sunday he will do the same at 5:00 p.m. in San Juan de Letán – Cathedral of Rome and a sign of his mission as a bishop of this city – and at 7:00 p.m. in the Basilica of Santa María la Mayor.
“The Pope begins his mission by visiting the main sanctuaries of Rome, with a prayer in the graves of the Roman martyrs, San Pedro and San Pablo, and, of course, he goes to the Basilica of San Juan de Letán, which is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome,” details the Lithuanian cardinal.
Two hours after the celebration in San Juan de Letán, Pope Leo XIV will preside over a Mass in Santa María la Mayor. It will be at 7:00 p.m., shortly before the night in Rome, at a time of great spiritual recollection. After praying silently to the icon of the Safety of the Roman peopleIt will be proclaimed El Evangelio, followed by a brief Homilia del Pontiff.
“The celebration will conclude with the apostolic blessing of the Holy Father,” says Makrickas, the only cardinal mentioned in the last wills of Pope Francis.
It was precisely to whom the Argentine pontiff trusted his desire to be buried in this basilica. “He visited it 126 times,” recalls the cardinal with a brightness in his eyes. Since then, the place has become a must for pilgrims visiting Rome.
“There are many people who come every day to see their grave, to thank for their legacy, for their great example as a shepherd of the Church and, above all, because he tried to live the gospel in his ordinary life. It was an example for all of us and for the people who arrive from all over the world,” summarizes the purple, which verifies an exponential growth in the number of pilgrims during the last month.
It is enough to look at the entrance of this Marian temple to see the uninterrupted tails of faithful who wish to pay tribute to who was, for many, the Pope of the people.
Bénédicte Cedergren, associated producer of Ewtn News Nightly and Valentina di Donato, Ewtn News Nightly, have collaborated in this article.
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.