This is Mary, Untier of Knots, an image which Pope Francis has been devoted to since he was a doctoral student in Germany. The only original replica of the painting will be at the Vatican gardens on May 31 to mark the end of the “prayer marathon” which the Pope launched to pray for an end to the pandemic.
The image will arrive in Rome from Augsburg, Germany.
To end the month of May the Vatican gardens will be transformed into an “open-air Marian sanctuary” where Pope Francis will be joined virtually by hundreds of pilgrims from 30 Marian shrines around the world. Together they will pray that Mary unties the knots of the current health crisis.
The Pope kicked off the call to prayer on May 1 before this image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in St. Peter's Basilica.
POPE FRANCIS
'Most Holy Mary. Touch consciences so that the enormous sums of money used to produce and perfect weapons may instead be used to promote effective studies for the prevention of similar catastrophes in the future.'
Marian shrines will virtually join the prayer from sites as far as Kibeho, Rwanda; or Caacupe, Paraguay.
There the Pope may also announce where the special image of Mary, Untier of Knots will remain.
Daniel Diaz Vizzi
TR: Justin McLellan
RR