Pope Leo XIV's Birthday Gift to Mary on Visit to Our Lady of Good Counsel on the Nativity of Mary Feast Vigil! VIDEO


Pope Leo XIV Visits Genazzano Shrine for the Nativity of Mary Vigil

Genazzano, the medieval Italian town about 40 km from Rome, was filled with joyful anticipation as Pope Leo XIV arrived to celebrate Mass at the Basilica Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel on the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He presented Our Lady a golden rose as per tradition. 


This marks a return for the Pope, who shares a lifelong bond with the shrine. He first visited as a young Roman student in the early 1980s, returned frequently as Prior General of the Augustinian Order, Bishop of Chiclayo, and Cardinal, and belongs to the Augustinian Province of Chicago, which is itself dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel.

Before even stepping onto the loggia of St. Peter's on election day, he prayed before an image of Our Lady of Good Counsel in the Pauline Chapel, followed by a private pilgrimage to the Genazzano shrine on May 10, 2025—just two days after his election.

Key Events of the Papal Visit

  • Arrival & Welcome: Pope Leo arrived at Piazzale della Pace at 4:30 p.m. to travel via popemobile through the town, greeted by local authorities, the Augustinian community, and Bishop Mauro Parmeggiani of Tivoli and Palestrina.

  • Unveiling of Papal Portrait: During his September 7 visit, a new painting by former Vatican restorer Marco Innocenzi depicting Pope Leo kneeling before the icon was unveiled. It joins a gallery of visiting pontiffs including Urban VIII, Blessed Pius IX, John XXIII, and Saint John Paul II.

  • Celebration of Mass: The Pope wore custom vestments donated by local residents featuring water-themed embroidery that evokes the Miracle at Cana. Concelebrants included Augustinian leadership—who have cared for the shrine since the 14th century—and Archbishop Giovanni Peragine of Shkodër-Pult.

  • The Golden Rose Presentation: Pope Leo presented a three-branched Golden Rose to the shrine—echoing a lost gift originally bestowed by Pope Martin V in 1431—and will receive an ex ossibus relic of Blessed Stefano Bellesini in return.

Spiritual and Historical Significance

According to tradition, on April 25, 1467, the sacred image miraculously appeared on a wall of the church while it was under construction. Two Albanian pilgrims recognized it as the venerated image that had vanished from Shkodër, Albania, forging a deep centuries-old bond between the two regions.

Addressing the visit, Bishop Parmeggiani highlighted the event as a profound gift, noting that Our Lady continually "points to Christ as the path to follow." Shrine Rector Fr. Ludovico Centra echoed this, emphasizing that Mary’s enduring role—like at Cana—is to direct the faithful toward her Son, who represents God's ultimate "good counsel."

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