Pope to pay homage to Immaculate Conception in Rome’s center

(December 07, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Wednesday evening will pay homage to the statue of the Immaculate Conception atop a tall column that stands near Rome’s Spanish Steps. The Pope does this every year in keeping with Rome’s annual tradition on the feast of Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th. The feast has been celebrated for many centuries in the liturgy, but the dogma was only proclaimed in 1854 by Pope Pius IX.
The Pope will be welcomed on his arrival by Cardinal Agostino Vallini, Vicar General of Rome and the Mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno. Present at the prayer ceremony organised by the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate will be several top prelates, humanitarian groups, numerous Roman citizens and Rome’s fire brigade team, who early Wednesday morning will climb to the top of the column and place a crown of flowers in the statue’s right hand.