Pope Francis prays at St. Mary Major ahead of Portugal journey

06 July, 2026

Donate Subscribe

Exaudi Staff

Leo XIV , World Youth Days

31 July, 2023

1 min

Pope Francis prays at St. Mary Major ahead of Portugal journey

And entrusts his visit and World Youth Day participants to the Blessed Virgin Mary

On Monday afternoon of 31 July, Pope Francis went to the Roman Basilica of Saint Mary Major to pray before the icon of Mary, Salus Populi Romani, ahead of his Apostolic Journey to Portugal. He entrusted his journey and the thousands of young people he will meet in the coming days to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The papal journey from 2-6 August begins on Wednesday when the Pope departs for Lisbon, which is hosting World Youth Day. It will mark the fourth time Pope Francis presides at the global celebration, following the World Youth Days in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2013), Krakow, Poland (2016), and Panama City, Panama (2019).

The Pope is also scheduled to visit the Marian pilgrimage Shrine of Fatima on Saturday.

The 38th World Youth Day was originally scheduled to take place in the Portuguese capital in 2022, but was postponed due to the health emergency caused by the Covid pandemic.

The motto chosen by Pope Francis for this World Youth Day is “Mary arose and went with haste” (Lk 1:39).

Exaudi Staff

What is Exaudi News? Exaudi News is an international Catholic media outlet that informs, shapes, and transforms daily in Spanish, English, and Italian. Through news, analytical articles, and live broadcasts of the Pope's events, Exaudi seeks to strengthen Christian unity and contribute to the evangelization of the world, always guided by the Church's social doctrine. We work to bring Christian truth and values to every corner of the planet. Help us transform the world with Exaudi! At Exaudi, we believe that evangelization and quality information can change lives. To continue our mission and expand our reach, we need your help. In addition, we are looking for committed people to join our team. With your support, we will reach more people, spread the message of Christ, and strengthen Christian unity. Will you join our mission? For more information on how to collaborate, visit Exaudi.org or contact us directly: [email protected] Exaudi: Informs, educates, and transforms.