Pope Francis welcomed and blessed hundreds of Peruvian pilgrims gathered at the St. Peter’s Square on the occasion of the Lord of Miracles’ procession through the Vatican in Rome.
After he recalled the beatification of Mother Assunta Marchetti, the Holy Father addressed the faithful including, among others, women singers, incense burners, and carriers who, dressed in purple, came to the Angelus in procession while singing and praying.
“I greet all the pilgrims. My thoughts go in a special way to the Peruvian community in Rome, who are here present with the sacred image of our Lord of the Miracles. How beautiful!” he said.
Following the Angelus, the procession headed to the St. Peter’s Basilica, where the Auxiliary Bishop of Rome, Monsignor Matteo Zuppi, co-celebrated the Holy Mass with a group of Peruvian priests.
In his sermon, Monsignor Zuppi reminded the faithful of the importance of celebrating a mass along with the Lord of Miracles at the altar of St. Peter’s, a place that is strongly united to the Pope and the whole Church.
El Senor de los Milagros (The Lord of Miracles) is an image of Christ crucified that was painted by an anonymous freedman in the 17th century in Lima, and that has become a focus of deep veneration and intense devotion, especially among Peruvians.
(END) NDP/LZD/RMB
Published: 10/26/2014