The feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated in a special way in Rome.
The firefighters will go at 7 a.m. to Spain Square, where the statue of the Virgin is located. There they will place a wreath on the her arm. They are the first to pay homage, in honor of the 220 colleagues who started this tradition in 1857, a few years after the declaration of the dogma.
Pope Francis will be at the celebration. His arrival is scheduled for 4:00 pm. There he will be received by the cardinal vicar of Rome, and by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. He will pray in front of the monument dedicated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and leave flowers at its base.
The column on which the image of the Virgin stands is 12 meters high. The faithful are expected to pass before it throughout the day to pay homage to her.
TR: JD
