On the afternoon of August 27, the day on which Saint Monica is celebrated, Pope Francis left the Vatican to visit the Roman church of Saint Augustine, where the saint’s tomb is located.
The Holy Father arrived at the central church, located a few meters from the famous Piazza Navona, and stopped in prayer in the chapel where the remains of the saint whose tireless faith and prayer achieved the conversion of her son are kept.
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According to the Press Office of the Holy See, the Pontiff also stopped to pray before the image of Our Lady of the Pilgrims.
At the exit of the temple, he greeted the friars, nuns and pilgrims present; and then return to the Vatican.
This is the second time that Pope Francis has visited “by surprise” the tomb of this patron saint of wives and model of a woman and mother. The first time was in 2020.
Years ago, in 2017, on the occasion of the feast of Saint Monica, the Pontiff wrote in his X account: “How many mothers shed tears, like Saint Monica, so that their children return to Christ! Do not lose hope in the Grace of God!”
Almudena Martínez-Bordiú
I am a graduate in Journalism and Advertising from the CEU San Pablo University in Madrid. Specialized in religious information in Spain since 2015. I have been a senior correspondent for ACI Prensa and EWTN Noticias in the Vatican for two years and I am currently a European correspondent based in Spain.