The pope left a bouquet of flowers in front of Our Lady at the replica of the Lourdes grotto in the Vatican Gardens. This grotto, built at the beginning of the 20th century, was the place chosen to pray the rosary for people affected by the coronavirus.
POPE FRANCIS
We entrust ourselves to You, Health of the Sick, who before the Cross have been associated with the pain of Jesus, keeping your faith firm.
A doctor, a nurse, and a hospital chaplain who cared for people infected with coronavirus were among those present. There was also a person who had been cured and a woman who lost her mother to the illness.
Each one led part of the rosary, which among Catholics is prayed with greater intensity in the month of May.
Around the world, 50 Marian shrines participated in the prayer from their respective countries. At the end, the pope sent a greeting to those in Latin America.
POPE FRANCIS
They tell me that there are many shrines in Latin America and I wanted to send a greeting in Spanish to all of you, the shrines of Latin America. I see Guadalupe... and many others who are in communication with us, united in prayer. In my mother tongue I greet you: thank you for being close to all of us. May our Mother from Guadalupe be with us.
The solemn prayer ended as it began, by singing “Ave Maria.”
All those present tried to respect security measures, with social distancing and masks, while praying for an end to the coronavirus and for all those whose lives have been affected by it.
Melissa Butz
