On May 12 the cardinal Robert Francis Prevost He was expected to Albano for the taking of the title of the suburbicaria diocese assigned to him by Francesco. Everything was ready, but the Holy Spirit in conclave He distorted the plans and wanted him on the spots of Pietro with the name of Leo XIV. Prevost, however, has so much taken to the heart of these places that host the summer residence of the popes that they immediately relaunch the tradition of the buen retiro of Castel Gandolfo. And with a great gesture of affection for the diocese, in addition to celebrating two masses in the Pontifical parish of San Tommaso da Villanova, in July he also celebrated in the Cathedral of Albano and today he will return to the center of the Castelli to celebrate the mass in the sanctuary of Santa Maria della Rotonda and then have lunch with the poor of the local Caritas inside the Laudato village.
The promise
Last July 20, celebrating in the Cathedral of Albano, the Pope had been hit by the icon of the Madonna della Rotonda who had been placed on the altar in homage to his strong Marian devotion. It is in that circumstance, in the sacristy, that the idea of today’s historical visit was born. Monsignor Adriano Gibellinirector of the sanctuary and who assisted the Pope’s celebrations in the diocese as head of the diocesan liturgical office, he told a Ilgiornale.it the genesis of the invitation. “After the mass of July 20, while the vestments were removed – says the priest – I illustrated to the Holy Father the devotion of Albano to the Madonna della Rotonda and explained to him how he had just venerated A copy of the table preserved in the sanctuary “.
The Pope appeared interested in tradition. “I – adds Gibellini – I told him that I would be honored to see him venerate our Madonna one day, but he said nothing. Then, however, when he came out he greeted me with a ‘We will see each other’ “. A “We will see ourselves” cAt the moment, however, the rector connects to the appointment for the implementation in the solemnity of the hiring in Castel Gandolfo and not to an unlikely visit of the pontiff to the small 80 -seater sanctuary. Surprisingly, however, receiving the bishop of Albano in the Vatican Monsignor Vincenzo VivaLeone gave his willingness to celebrate in the Madonna della Rotonda and then meet the poor of the diocese.
The sanctuary
The sanctuary of the roundabout, an architectural jewel that recalls the circular form for the circular form Pantheon of Romewas born as a nymphaeum of the villa of Domitian and becomes with certainty a church in 1060. Tradition, however, wants that in 768 AD a group of nuns fleeing the iconoclaste persecutions, Augustinian just as Prevost, brought the original painting of the Madonna venerated to this place still today. The cult of the Albanese people intensified in the second half of the nineteenth century, when the city was hit by an epidemic of cholera which made 443 victims. And precisely at this period the anniversary of celebrating the Madonna della Rotonda on the first Sunday of August is linked.
Monsignor Gibellini explains to Ilgiornale.it: “On August 5, 1867, on the first Sunday of the month, Cardinal Lodovico Altieri coming to the rescue of the Albanese people voted to the Madonna who if he had freed the city from cholera every first Sunday of August would have been remembered and celebrated. In the vote the cardinal said that if it had been necessary he would have given his own life”. On August 12, Cardinal Altieri, today a servant of God, he died infected And three days later Albano was officially declared by cholera.
Mass
Today’s Pope’s Mass will participate a representation of people assisted by Caritas Diocesana. Leo XIV will also greet the faithful present in the anti -pawd Piazza della Rotonda both before and after the celebration, arriving on foot. Before the entrance, the Holy Father will visit one photographic exhibition Set up by Caritas in the porch of the Church on the theme “Signs of hope”.
At the end of the mass Leone will go to Castel Gandolfo for the recitation of the Angelus from the Apostolic Palace. Finally, the Sunday of the Pontiff will end inside the pontifical villas with lunch at Borgo Laudato yes together with the poor and Caritas operators.