Pope Francis visits shrine in Pompeii before heading to Naples
Pope Francis departed from the Vatican this morning at 7:15 to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompeii. He arrived at the heliport near the basilica at 8:00 where he was greeted by Archbishop Tomaso Caputo of Pompeii, the pontifical delegate for the Sanctuary and several local authorities.
Listen to Junno Arocho’s report:
After spending several minutes in prayer in front of the image of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Holy Father will once again make his way by helicopter to the city of Naples where he will meet the faithful at John Paul II Square.
At 11, he will celebrate a Mass at Plebiscito Square and shortly after will head to the Giuseppe Salvia Detention Center, where he will have lunch with several of the detainees.
In the afternoon, the Pope will go to the Cathedral in Napes where he will venerate the relics of St. Januarius, the 3rd century bishop and martyr whose dried blood contained in glass vials liquefies miraculously every year. It is there where the Pope will meet with the clergy and religious men and women before heading to the Basilica of Gesu Nuovo, where he will meet with the sick and disabled.
Pope Francis will conclude his apostolic visit to Naples with a meeting of youth at 5:00pm in Lungomare Caracciolo. The Holy Father is expected to land in Vatican City at approximately 7:00pm.
Below is the Vatican Radio translation of the Pope’s prayer at the Shrine in Pompeii:
Virgin of the Holy Rosary, Mother of the Redeemer, our earthly Lady raised above the heavens, humble servant of the Lord, proclaimed Queen of the world, from the depth of our miseries we turn to you. With the faithfulness of children we look to your sweet gaze.
Crowned with twelve stars, you bring us to the mystery of the Father, you shine the splendor of the Holy Spirit, you give us our Divine Child, Jesus, our hope, our only salvation in the world. Comforted by your Rosary, you invite us to be fixed to his gaze. You open to us His heart, abyss of joy and sorry, of light and glory, mystery of the son of God, made man for us. At your feet in the footsteps of the saints, we feel as God’s family.
Mother and model of the Church, you are our guide and secure support. Make us one heart and one mind, a strong people on the way towards the heavenly homeland. We entrust our misters, the many streets of hate and blood, the thousands of ancient and new poverties and above all, our sins. To you we entrust ourselves, Mother of Mercy: grant us the forgiveness of God, help us to build a world according to your heart.
O Blessed Rosary of Mary, sweet chain that ties us to God, chain of love that makes us brothers, we will not leave you again. You will be in our hands a weapon of peace and forgiveness, star that guides our path. And the kiss to you with our last breath, we plunge into a wave of light, in the vision of the beloved Mother and the Son of God, the desire and joy of our heart, with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.