Pope returns to sanctuary where he prayed after election and unveils a fresco depicting the event
Summary
Pope Leo XIV visited the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, where he prayed soon after becoming pope. During his visit, he unveiled a fresco showing him praying at the sanctuary, which honors his connection to the place and his Augustinian order.Key Facts
- Pope Leo XIV returned to the sanctuary on September 7, 2026, where he had prayed right after his election in May 2025.
- The sanctuary is located in Genazzano, a medieval village south of Rome, and has been a pilgrimage site since the 15th century.
- A fresco now decorates the basilica’s upper wall, showing Pope Leo XIV praying there.
- Previous popes’ visits to the sanctuary have also been commemorated with portraits, starting with Pope Urban VIII in 1630.
- The sanctuary is managed by Augustinian friars, the same religious order to which Pope Leo XIV belongs.
- Pope Leo XIV included a note in the sanctuary’s guest book expressing his deep spiritual connection to the Madonna of Good Counsel.
- The sanctuary was elevated to a minor basilica and its convent expanded in the early 1900s by Pope Leo XIII.
- Pope Leo XIV is preparing for upcoming trips to France, Uruguay, Argentina, and Peru later in 2026.
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