Tradition and devotion unite in the tribute to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the occasion of the solemnity commemorated on December 8. The city of Rome and various organizations will participate by praying and offering flowers before the statue of the Virgin in Piazza Mignanelli, while Pope Leo XIV will perform the customary gesture of veneration before the Marian image.

Last year, on December 8, 2024, Pope Francis prayed at the feet of Mary and entrusted to her the impending Jubilee, described as “a message of hope for humanity beset by crises and wars.” This year, Pope Leo XIV returns to greet the Virgin Mary just weeks before the close of the Holy Year.

The arrival of the Holy Father

The Vicariate of Rome has announced in a bulletin that, following tradition, firefighters will be the first to place flowers before the statue of the Immaculate Conception, commemorating the 220 colleagues who erected the statue on December 8, 1857. At 7:00 a.m., they will ascend to the top to place their wreaths on the Virgin’s arm.

In the afternoon, at 4:00 p.m., the Pope will arrive and be received by Cardinal Vicar Baldo Reina and Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. He will remain in prayer at the foot of the 12-meter-high column, crowned by the statue of the Virgin, and will lay a wreath of flowers.

The day will include various activities: at 8:30 a.m., the Vatican Gendarmerie Band will perform a hymn dedicated to the Virgin Mary; also participating will be the parish of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, the Sovereign Order of Malta, the Legio Mariae, the Circolo San Pietro, the Don Gnocchi Foundation, UNITALSI, and several educational institutions. At 9:00 a.m., a Mass will be celebrated in the church of Trinità dei Monti, presided over by Monsignor Francesco Pesce, diocesan delegate for social and labor pastoral care, with the attendance of employees from various Roman companies.

Novena in honor of Mary

The Conventual Franciscan Friars of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles will lead the day’s celebrations. As part of these initiatives, the oldest novena to the Immaculate Conception in Rome is being held at this church: from November 29 to December 7, the Rosary will be recited and the litanies chanted each day at 5:45 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., Mass will begin with the singing of “Tota Pulchra,” a work by the Conventual Franciscan Friar Alessandro Borroni.