Pope Francis visits St Mary Major before his Holy Land visit

(Vatican Radio)  Pope Francis made a private visit to the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major on Friday morning to pray and entrust his Holy Land pilgrimage to Our Lady. After praying for 15 minutes before the image of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani, the Pope left a bouquet of roses in her honour.    

The Pope also made an unannounced visit to the same Basilica before his journey to Brazil in July 2013 for the World Youth Day gathering.