Pope Leo XIV marks election anniversary with prayer visit to Pompeii
Pope Leo XIV marked the first anniversary of his election Friday with a pilgrimage to Pompeii, spending the day in prayer at the Marian shrine dedicated to Our Lady of Pompeii on a feast day that has special personal significance for him.
He traveled by helicopter to the city near Naples for the observance of the May 8 feast, which commemorates the 1876 laying of the cornerstone for the sanctuary honoring the Virgin Mary. The shrine sits near the ruins of ancient Pompeii, the Roman city destroyed in A.D. 79 by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and today draws Catholic pilgrims from around the world, especially those devoted to praying the rosary.
Inside the sanctuary, Leo addressed worshippers before celebrating Mass, calling the day deeply meaningful. “What a beautiful day, how many blessings the Lord wanted to give to all of us,” he said. “I feel I am the first blessed to be able to come here to the sanctuary of the Madonna on the day of her feast and on this anniversary.”
The visit also marked a symbolic milestone: one year since the election of Robert Prevost, the first U.S.-born pope, who took the name Leo XIV. He had referenced the same Marian feast on the night of his election, when he first appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica and led prayers for his new papacy, entrusting his mission and the church to Mary’s protection.
“Mary always wants to walk at our side, to remain close to us, to help us with her intercession and her love,” he said at the time, urging prayers for peace and for the global church.
The Pompeii sanctuary is closely tied to St. Bartolo Longo, a former lawyer turned lay preacher who founded the basilica and is revered in Italy for his charitable work with orphans, prisoners, and the poor. He was canonized in October after Pope Francis approved the final miracle required for sainthood shortly before his death.
Leo began his visit by meeting with sick and disabled people cared for through a charity connected to the sanctuary, which was elevated to a pontifical basilica in 1901 by Pope Leo XIII, his papal namesake.
Speaking about Longo’s legacy, Leo recalled the poverty and hardship of the region when the saint first arrived, describing how he saw dignity in those around him. “He was able to see the face of Christ in everyone,” the pope said, “especially in the orphans and the children of prisoners.”
Large crowds gathered to greet Leo, with some supporters arriving hours before dawn. Many expressed admiration for his recent comments on global tensions and leadership, praising his tone and approach as he begins his papacy.
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