Coronavirus, Pope Francis prays in two symbolic churches in Rome invoking “the end of the pandemic”. The meaning and the precedents

Sunday afternoon Pope francesco came out of Vatican and visited two iconic churches to pray for the end of pandemic of coronavirus. The pontiff visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to address a prayer to Maria Salus populi Romani. Then, making a stretch of Via del Corso on foot, “as if on a pilgrimage”, he reached the church of San Marcello al Corso. And it has been immortalized in a photo that will remain in the annals.

Pope Francis has one special devotion for Maria Salus populi Romani and goes there both on the occasion of the great Marian feastsboth before and after international travel. In 593 Pope Gregory I he carried it in procession to end the plague, and in 1837 Gregory XVI invoked her to end a cholera epidemic. In the church of San Marcello al Corso, however, there is the Crucified miraculous that in 1522 he was carried in procession through the districts of the city during the plague.

“With his prayer – said the Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni – the Holy Father invoked the end of the pandemic that affects Italy and the world, begged for healing for the many sick, remembered the many victims of these days, and asked that their family and friends find consolation and comfort. His intention – continued Bruni – also addressed the health workers, to doctors, nurses, and to those who in these days, with their work, guarantee the functioning of society “.

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A real pilgrimage to ask for an end to the coronavirus epidemic. It is the sense of the gesture made by Pope Francis who surprisingly he left the Vatican to pray first in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, in front of the image of the Salus populi romani, of which he is particularly devoted and from which he travels before and after all international travel and in some Marian feasts. And then in the Church of San Marcello al Corso to venerate the miraculous Crucifix which in the sixteenth century saved Rome from the plague. The Pope took advantage of the deserted streets of Rome, as indeed throughout Italy, in compliance with government decrees, to travel about twenty meters on foot and reach the second stage of his short pilgrimage.

There Salus populi romani, which Francis wanted to venerate for the first time the day after his election to the pontificate, has always been the object of great devotion on the part of the Popes. In 593 Gregory I carried her in procession demanding an end to the plague. In 1837 Gregory XVI prayed before the Marian icon invoking the end of the cholera epidemic. Even the Miraculous crucifix it is highly revered by the Romans. There Church of San Marcello al Corso, which for more than a millennium had not suffered any particular damage, was suddenly destroyed by a violent fire on the night of 22-23 May 1519. From the ruin of the entire sacred building only the wooden Crucifix, which at the time stood above the high altar, and the glass lamp that burned before him were miraculously saved.

This miraculous event deeply moved the Romans who began to pray before this image. Three years later, in 1522, one severe plague epidemic spread throughout the city. It was then that the titular cardinal of San Marcello, the Spanish cardinal Raimondo Vich, organized a solemn penitential procession lasting 16 days. The Crucifix was carried on the shoulder for the different districts of Rome and reached the Basilica of San Pietro. Chroniclers of the time agreed that the plague would stop where the procession passed.

During the Great Jubilee of 2000 St. John Paul II he wanted to pray right in front of the miraculous Crucifix in mass for the day of forgiveness in which he made a historic mea culpa for the evils committed by the Catholic Church over the centuries. Wojtyla, right in the time of Lent, wanted that image in St. Peter’s Basilica where I venerate it together with the then cardinal prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Joseph Ratzinger, which would succeed him five years later. “The Church,” said the Polish Pope on that occasion, “spiritually gathered around the successor of Peter, implore divine forgiveness for the guilt of all believers. Let’s forgive and ask for forgiveness! ”. Thus we understand the value of that Crucifix for the Popes of yesterday and today.

Francis referred to the gestures of his predecessors and the Roman faithful by asking, in front of that miraculous image, the end of the coronavirus epidemic. “With his prayer, – explained the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni – The Holy Father invoked the end of the pandemic that affects Italy and the world, implored healing for the many sick, remembered the many victims of these days, and asked that their family and friends find consolation and comfort. His intention also turned to health workers, doctors, nurses, and to those who in these days, with their work, guarantee the functioning of the company “.

An eloquent gesture that made by Francis who he does not want the churches to be closed even if, in line with what was established by Palazzo Chigi, the Italian Bishops’ Conference decided that until April 3, 2020 there will be no masses and funerals in the presence of the faithful. But sacred buildings, for Bergoglio, must in any case remain open to ensure that anyone who wants to, always in compliance with the anti-contagion rules, can pray. The Prefecture of the Pontifical House announced that all the celebrations of the Holy Week chaired by the Pope will be held behind closed doors, without the presence of the faithful, and that until Easter April 12, 2020, all Sunday Angelus and Wednesday general audiences will be only in live streaming.

The cardinal vicar of Rome, Angelo De Donatis, after a careful discussion with the bishop of the capital, Francesco, has decided to leave “the parish churches open and those which are places of missions with care of souls and equated”, simply closing all the others.

The Pope really wanted to pray “for shepherds who must accompany the people of God in this crisis: may the Lord give him the strength and also the ability to choose the best means to help. Drastic measures are not always good, so we pray: that the Holy Spirit will give the shepherds ability and discernment pastoral care so that they can provide measures that do not leave the holy faithful people of God alone. May the people of God feel accompanied by the shepherds and by the comfort of the word of God, of the sacraments and of prayer ”.

The closeness expressed by Bergoglio was also significant to the Lombards, most affected by the coronavirus. “The archbishop (Mario Delpini, ed) – said Francesco – is close to his people and also close to God in prayer. I am reminded of the photograph from last week: he alone on the roof of the Duomo praying to the Madonna. I would also like to thank all the priests, the creativity of the priests. A lot of news comes from Lombardy on this creativity. True, Lombardy has been very affected. Priests who think a thousand ways to be close to the people, so that the people do not feel abandoned; priests with him apostolic zeal, who understood well that in times of pandemic Don Abbondio must not be done. Thank you very much to you priests. ”

Twitter: @FrancescoGrana

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