Saturday evening, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray for the success of his 22nd Apostolic Visit abroad to the South American countries of Chile and Peru, Jan. 15-22, 2018, reported Director of the Holy See Press Office, Greg Burke, on his Twitter.
The Holy Father almost always visits Rome’s Marian Basilica to pray for Mary’s protection and intercession before and after his papal trips.
According to the Holy See Press Office, the Pope prayed before the ancient image of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, and invoked the Virgin Mary’s protection on his travels and upon the people he will visit in the countries in the week ahead.
