In another surprise visit by Pope Francis early Saturday afternoon, Vatican sources confirmed that the Pontiff visited the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome and stopped to pray before the icon of the Virgin, Salus Populi Romani, on the eve of Palm Sunday and Holy Week.
The Pope’s previous surprise events
On Thursday, Pope Francis visited St. Peter’s Basilica to check the progress of the restoration of two funerary monuments, those of Popes Paul III and Urban VIII, whose works will be presented on Sunday.
Before moving on to the tomb of Pius X, where he gathered in prayer, the pope, who was wearing trousers and a poncho instead of his usual white suit, met two restorers who were on site to carry out the final touches. He had them called by the Vatican gendarmerie and thanked them in person.
The Pope is still recovering after a long stay at the Gemelli polyclinic with double pneumonia. Nonetheless, he met the British royals on Wednesday during an unscheduled interview as they visited Rome. Last Sunday, he appeared in St. Peter’s Square at the end of the mass for the Jubilee of the sick and healthcare workers.