The Pope gave a special greeting to pilgrims from Slovakia at his General Audience, and even spoke to them in Slovak.
POPE FRANCIS
“I cordially greet the Slovakian faithful. I bless all of you and your loved ones in your homeland from my heart. Glory be to Jesus Christ!'
Nearly 500 pilgrims from Slovakia travelled to Rome to celebrate the legacy history of this icon of Our Lady of Klokočov. According to the story behind the icon, the Virgin Mary began to weep when Hungarian troops stormed the Church where it was housed in 1670.
350 years later, these pilgrims have brought a copy of the icon to be blessed by Pope Francis.
FR. MATÚŠ MARCIN
Founder, Klokočov Family Prayer Group
“During the General Audience we asked the Holy Father if he would bless it, and with great joy he blessed our icon. Now with this blessed icon we want to do spiritual exercises for our faithful.”
The pilgrims carried a copy of the painting to the Pope's Audience. Although there was no guarantee Pope Francis would see it, the powerful icon caught his attention.
FR. MATÚŠ MARCIN
Founder, Klokočov Family Prayer Group
“All of the heavy things we carried with us have been blessed. God did not forget us. We didn't make a special reservation or anything, we just had faith that, if God wanted it, and if the Mother of God wanted it, the Pope would bless them, and if not, then he wouldn't.”
Fr. Marcin says the blessed painting will return to Slovakia where it will circulate through various homes, bringing the Pope's blessing from Rome to families throughout Slovakia.
JM
