Pope Leo praying at the Shrine
Pope visits Shrine of Our Lady of Grace just south of
Rome
Pope Leo XIV travels to a Marian shrine of Our Lady of Grace
in a village within the Diocese of Palestrina, and holds a private meeting with
the Resurrectionist religious dedicated to caring for the sanctuary.
By Kielce Gussie
On 19 August, Pope Leo XIV made a private visit to the
Shrine of Our Lady of Grace at Mentorella—in the village of Guadangolo, part of
Capranica Prenestina in the Diocese of Palestrina.
After dedicating time to prayer, the Holy Father spent time
with the Polish Resurrectionist religious who serve at the sanctuary before
returning to the papal residence at Castel Gandolfo.
Shrine of Our Lady of Grace
Mentorella is about 65 km (40 miles) southeast of Rome and
sits on top of a mountain. It holds a special connection to several pontiffs:
Pope John Paul II, just nine days after being elected pope, made a pilgrimage
to the Shrine. Pope Benedict XVI also visited the sanctuary in 2005, and Pope
Innocent XIII (1721-1724) had requested his heart to be buried there.
Tradition holds it was the place where St. Eustachius
converted in the 2nd century. Two hundred years later, Emperor Constantine
built a basilica on the spot where the saint converted, and it was consecrated
by Pope Silvester I in the years before 335.
Two centuries later, in the 500s, the land was turned over
to the monks of Subiaco. In the middle of the 13th century, a wooden image
of the Blessed Virgin Mary—which is still found in the church today—was
created.
After the Benedictines abandoned the area in the
14th century, Pope Pius IX placed the Congregation of the Resurrection in
charge of the Shrine in 1857.
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