Monday afternoon after having landed in Rome’s Ciampino Airport around 11:20 a.m. in Rome on Jan. 28, 2019, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to offer thanks for the success of his four-day Apostolic Visit to the Central American country of Panama, Jan. 23-27, 2019, for the occasion of the XXXIV World Youth Day.
Director ‘ad interim’ of the Holy See Press Office, Alessandro Gisotti, on his Twitter, made the following tweet: «On returning from his journey to Panama for World Youth Day, Pope Francis went to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray. #WYD2019«
It is already a usual detour for the Holy Father to go to the Marian Basilica; he always venerates the icon before and after his international apostolic trips.
During his time inside, Francis prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, in silence for several minutes.
