“May the ‘Salus Populi Romani’ protect Pope Francis in this difficul moment.” It is the invocation of Cardinal Rolandas Makrickas, Coadjutor Archpriest of the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, in his prayer. Every day, the faithful and pilgrims gather to pray before the icon of the Virgin Mary, to whom the Pope has a special devotion and which he has visited 124 times during his pontificate, accompanying the intentions for the Holy Father’s health with the recitation of the Rosary and the Angelus prayer. A special bond unites Francis with the Mother of God: here the Pope “comes to see and to be seen”, entrusting to Mary “his life and that of the people he meets.”
Your Eminence, the Pope has a deep affection for the Basilica of St Mary Major, and in particular for the venerated image of the Blessed Virgin Mary Salus Populi Romani. How is this particular moment of prayer and closeness to the Holy Father being experienced by the congregation of the Basilica?
The Holy Father is a frequent pilgrim to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. He pauses in prayer before the Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani. He did this before and after every apostolic journey, including when he returned from the hospital in Santa Marta. Before his departure he always stopped to pray to the Virgin Mary.
At this time of trial and illness, we wish to be close to the Holy Father with our prayers, as believers and as a congregation of the Basilica.
We recite the Rosary every day at 11.30 a.m. in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which is currently on display in the Chapel of the Crucifix. At noon we recite the Angelus for the Pope’s good health and intentions.
Does prayer accompany the Pope throughout the day?
We dedicate a second Rosary specifically to him at 5.15pm in the Salus Populi Romani Chapel, before the last Mass of the day. In addition, in recent months we have added a special liturgical ritual to the 6pm Mass, which is the last Mass of the day. At the end of the Mass, the icon ‘Populi Romani’ is solemnly closed with a prayer of invocation, asking for the protection of the Blessed Virgin over the city of Rome, over the pilgrims who visit this Basilica, and over all the faithful in the world. We have now added a special invocation asking for the protection of our Holy Father.
These are the three special moments when the congregation of the Basilica says a special prayer for the Pope. We also remember him during the liturgy, in the prayer of the faithful: he is always in our thoughts.
Do many people attend?
People come and attend services because they know that a special prayer will be said for the Holy Father. Pilgrims from all over the world who are here for the Jubilee also take part. As a result, during Holy Mass and for the Rosary prayer the chapel, especially the chapel dedicated to Salus Populi Romani, is full with people. The faithful who regularly attend services at the Basilica seize this opportunity to offer special prayers for the Holy Father. Of course the most heartfelt prayers are those said in St Peter’s Square. Our contribution and service to the faithful who attend Mass in the Basilica are these two Rosary prayers.
Your Eminence, what is the origin of this special relationship that the Pope has with Mary, and in particular with Salus Populi Romani?
This special relationship between the Pope and Mary, and in particular with the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani, has been clearly evident on every occasion that Pope Francis has come here to pray. The Holy Father constantly wishes to contemplate the face of the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, a Mother who cares for the spiritual and physical well-being of all the faithful. It’s a unique relationship. When the Holy Father visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, he said some very moving words.
He said: “I have not come to sees Mary. I have come so that Mary may look at me, at my life, at my intentions for the world, for the peoples I visit, for the people I meet”.
It is a very special relationship.
Your Eminence, you were created a Cardinal in the last Consistory and you are the Custos of this Basilica. How do you personally experience this time?
It is with gratitude and a great sense of responsibility that I received this appointment and the Holy Father’s attention. With regard to the Basilica, I would like to emphasise that it is first and foremost a Shrine. The Holy Father has expressed a strong desire that this shrine should remain a special place of prayer, open to the whole world with its spiritual, cultural and artistic treasures. It is a great responsibility for me to fulfil the Pope’s wish and to ensure that this Shrine remains a place of prayer and welcome for pilgrims from all over the world. It is indeed a very special place, chosen by the Pope as his final resting place.
What is your personal wish while waiting for the Pope’s recovery? Have you thought about a common prayer in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major?
There will certainly be a great prayer of thanksgiving for the recovery of the Holy Father, a prayer of joy for the return of the Holy Father to our midst to continue his ministry as shepherd of the universal Church. The most important moments of his pontificate have always been marked by his visit to this Basilica, where he comes to meet the Mother of God, to look at her and to be looked at by her.
