Pope returns to sanctuary where he prayed after election and unveils a fresco depicting the event
- Pope Leo XIV returned to the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy on Monday, September 7, 2026, where he had prayed two days after his election in May 2025.
- The Pope unveiled a fresco portrait of himself praying that now adorns an upper cornice of the basilica, joining a handful of past popes commemorated with portraits at the sanctuary dating back to Pope Urban VIII in 1630.
- The sanctuary, managed by Augustinian friars and a pilgrimage site since the 15th century, holds special significance for Pope Leo XIV's Augustinian religious order, which he belonged to as Robert Prevost before his election.
- During his May 2025 visit, Leo wrote in the sanctuary's guest book that he felt a 'need and profound desire' to pray before the Madonna of Good Counsel 'who has accompanied me all my life with her maternal presence.'
- The Pope celebrated Mass with his fellow Augustinian brothers at the basilica on Monday, which commemorates the birth of Mary.
Pope Leo XIV returned Monday to the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, where he had prayed just two days after his election in May 2025. At the medieval sanctuary south of Rome, the Pope unveiled a fresco portrait of himself praying that now adorns an upper cornice of the basilica, commemorating his historic visit as a permanent artistic tribute.
The fresco joins a select group of papal portraits at the sanctuary dating back to Pope Urban VIII in 1630. The sanctuary, managed by Augustinian friars and a pilgrimage site since the 15th century, holds particular significance for Pope Leo XIV, who belonged to the Augustinian religious order before his election as Robert Prevost. Pope Leo XIII, his namesake, elevated the sanctuary to a minor basilica in the early 1900s.
During his May 2025 visit, Leo wrote in the sanctuary's guest book that he felt a 'need and profound desire' to come and pray before the Madonna of Good Counsel, describing how she 'has accompanied me all my life with her maternal presence, with her wisdom and example of love for her son who is always the center of my faith.' On Monday, he celebrated Mass with his fellow Augustinian brothers on the feast day commemorating the birth of Mary.
The papal visit marks part of increased Vatican activities as summer concludes. Pope Leo XIV is preparing for an upcoming trip to France at the end of the month and a much-anticipated journey to Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru in November.
教宗回访当选后祈祷的圣殿 并揭幕纪念此事的壁画
教宗利奥十四世周一回访位于意大利罗马南部热那扎诺的善母圣殿，这是他2025年5月当选后两天曾祈祷的地方。在这座中世纪圣殿，教宗揭幕了一幅描绘他祈祷的壁画，现已装饰在圣殿的上部檐部，作为他历史性访问的永久艺术纪念。
这幅壁画加入了圣殿精选的教宗肖像集合，最早可追溯至1630年的乌尔班八世。该圣殿由奥古斯丁修士管理，自15世纪以来一直是朝圣地，对教宗利奥十四世具有特殊意义，他在当选前曾以罗伯特·普雷沃斯特身份属于奥古斯丁修会。他的同名前任教宗利奥十三世在20世纪初将该圣殿提升为小殿。
在2025年5月的访问中，利奥在圣殿留言簿中写道，他感到'需要和深切渴望'来此祈祷，在善母圣母面前，描述她'以母爱的临在、智慧和对我信仰中心之子的爱的榜样陪伴我一生'。周一，他与奥古斯丁修士兄弟在纪念圣母玛利亚诞辰的节日举行了弥撒。
这次教宗访问标志着梵蒂冈在夏季结束后活动增加的一部分。教宗利奥十四世正在为月底前往法国的旅行和备受期待的11月访问乌拉圭、阿根廷和秘鲁的行程做准备。