This morning, at the end of Mass in the Vatican Basilica, Pope Francis went to the Teutonic Holy Field for a moment of prayer and commemoration of the faithful departed. Waiting for the Holy Father were the Sisters Handmaids of Christ the Priest, who take care of the Cemetery, with their Superior, the Rector of the Pontifical Teutonic College of Santa Maria in Camposanto, and the Vice Rector. The Pope stopped in silent prayer, after having blessed the tombs kept there with the aspergillum. Immediately afterward, he returned to Casa Santa Marta.

In the afternoon of today, Wednesday 2 November, Pope Francis went to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore to pray before the icon of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani and entrust her with his upcoming trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain. In the end, he returned to the Vatican.

This afternoon’s visit is the 100th that Pope Francis has made to the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore since he was elected Pope.