CT News
May 8, 2026 : Pope Leo XIV marked the first anniversary of his pontificate on Friday, May 8, with a visit to the southern Italian cities of Pompeii and Naples.
After visiting and praying in the chapel where the remains of Saint Bartolo Longo are kept, the Pope celebrated Mass in the square in front of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, and recalled that he was elected Pope on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii.
Pope Leo reflected on the legacy of St. Bartolo Longo and his wife, Countess Marianna Farnararo De Fusco, who together laid the foundations for the Shrine on Mount Vesuvius, where an eruption buried a great civilization in 79 AD.
The Pope recalled the Marian devotion of his predecessors Pope Leo XIII and Pope John Paul II. He also recalled the many wars afflicting nations and prayed that God’s overflowing mercy may fill our hearts and world with peace.
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