(ZENIT News / Vatican City, 12.04.2023).- On Friday, December 8, 2023, on the occasion of the traditional visit to the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Pope Francis will pay homage to the revered icon of Salus Populi Romani, a Marian devotion venerated there, with the Golden Rose.
The Golden Rose has ancient roots and symbolizes the papal blessing. The tradition of awarding the Golden Rose dates back to the Middle Ages and, over the centuries, has been granted to monasteries, shrines, sovereigns, and prominent figures in recognition of their commitment to faith and the common good.
By donating the Rose to the Salus, Pope Francis emphasizes the spiritual importance and profound significance that this icon holds in the life of the Catholic Church, as it is also the oldest Marian sanctuary in the West dedicated to the Mother of God.
The one Pope Francis will donate is not the only Rose attributed to the Salus. The first was donated in 1551 by Pope Julius III, deeply devoted to the Marian icon preserved in the Basilica, where he had celebrated his first Mass at the Nativity altar.
In 1613, Pope Paul V donated the Golden Rose on the occasion of the transfer of the revered icon to the new chapel erected for this purpose.
There is no trace in the Basilica of the two Golden Roses donated by the two Pontiffs, which were likely lost during the Napoleonic invasion of the Papal States (Treaty of Tolentino 1797).
After 400 years, the Pontiff chose to give a tangible expression of his devotion to the revered icon, reinforcing the millennia-old bond between the Catholic Church and the city of Rome.
Upon hearing the news of this tribute, Archbishop Rolandas Makrickas, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Basilica, expressed his joy: «The gift of the Golden Rose is a historic gesture that visibly expresses Pope Francis’s deep connection to the Mother of God, venerated in this sanctuary under the title of Salus Populi Romani. The people of God will be further strengthened in their spiritual and devotional bond with the Blessed Virgin Mary. To the Salus, we ask for the gift of peace for the entire world.»
The Holy Father will present the Golden Rose on Friday, December 8, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. in the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
