Pope Leo XIV Prays at Tomb of Pope Francis

Vatican, May 11, 2025 — Pope Leo XIV made a brief visit at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he paused in prayer before the tomb of his predecessor, Pope Francis, and the revered icon of the Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani. The Holy See Press Office released the update on Saturday evening.

This marks the first time Pope Leo XIV has prayed at the tomb of the late pontiff since his election. His first visit occurred on the Second Sunday of Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, when, still Cardinal Robert Prevost, he joined fellow members of the College of Cardinals at the papal basilica. That visit came shortly after Pope Francis' tomb had been opened to the public, offering a moment of prayer and reflection for the faithful and Church leadership alike.

The stop at St. Mary Major continues a tradition of Marian devotion and reverence for predecessors that has long characterized papal life in

Rome.

Courtesy: Vatican News