Pope Leo XIV made a surprise visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano. AnewZ covered the event, with journalist Maria Rodriguez Abalde on-site. She witnessed the occasion firsthand and documented key moments. More images and footage will be available soon.
The visit created a stir in the town, especially when a heightened police presence was noticed earlier in the day. Locals were thrilled and honored to welcome the Pope, especially as this marked his first pastoral visit since becoming Pontiff.
The Pope was warmly received by the Augustinian friars of the basilica, the town's mayor Fabio Ascenzi, and the local bishop. He took time to greet the faithful gathered in the square, exchanged brief words with the bishop, and then entered the church to pray in front of the statue of the Madonna.
Pope Leo XIV's connection to Genazzano is longstanding. Even before becoming Pope, he had visited the basilica numerous times, especially as a cardinal, including his most recent visit on April 25 during the Feast of the 'Coming' of the Mother of Good Counsel. The Augustinians, the Pope's own religious order, have had a presence in Genazzano since the 13th century, deepening his ties to the town.
A resident speaking to Fanpage recalled, "He loves this place. He would often come here. This morning felt unusual with so much police activity, but now we know why. We're very proud". Another woman, speaking to TV2000, said, "I found out he was coming a couple of hours before. In a small town like this, news travels fast. I was the first to see him, but I couldn't find the words to speak. He is truly a wonderful Pope".
Many townspeople expressed hope of getting close enough to shake the Pope's hand, especially since the visit comes just days after his election.
The ANewZ channel covered the event, capturing photos and videos of this special moment for the local community. Journalist Maria Rodriguez Abalde was present at the scene and observed the event as it unfolded. More images and videos will be released soon.
Israel reportedly launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Friday (20 March), a day after U.S. President Donald...
The trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially become the most-watched trailer of all time, racking up 718.6 million views in its first 2...
Georgia’s relationship with the European Union is coming under increasing strain, as Members of the European Parliament openly criticise both...
Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, the martial artist, actor and cultural icon best known for his roles in action films and the long-running CB...
A U.S. federal arts body has approved the design of a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring President Dona...
The year 2025 proved to be one of the most transformative periods for the Roman Catholic Church in recent history, beginning with the death of Pope Francis and culminating in the election and early diplomatic outreach of his successor, Pope Leo XIV.
Ukraine "deeply appreciates" the humanitarian support of Pope Leo XIV. This was stated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting between the two at the papal residence of Castel Gandolfo, on Tuesday, 9 December.
Pope Leo XIV will end a three-day visit to Lebanon on Tuesday (2 December), concluding his first overseas trip as Catholic leader with an urgent appeal for peace in the Middle East and a warning that humanity’s future is threatened by the world’s bloody conflicts.
Pope Leo XIV visited Martyrs’ Square in Beirut on Monday, the second day of his Apostolic Journey to Lebanon, where he met with Christian and interreligious leaders to promote dialogue and unity among different faiths.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field without U.S. or Qatari involvement, and warned that any Iranian attack on Qatar would prompt massive retaliation. The comments come as regional tensions soar after Tehran fired missiles at Gulf energy sites.
Israel reportedly launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Friday (20 March), a day after U.S. President Donald Trump told it not to repeat its strikes on Iranian natural gas infrastructure, which sharply escalated the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, the martial artist, actor and cultural icon best known for his roles in action films and the long-running CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at the age of 86.
Transport groups across the Philippines launched a nationwide strike on Thursday in protest against rising oil prices. The action affected 15 to 20 protest centres in Metro Manila, with similar demonstrations taking place across several major provinces.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has refused to lift his opposition to a €90 billion ($104 billion) European Union loan to help Ukraine keep up its fight against Russia’s invasion, following a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday (19 March).
A U.S. federal arts body has approved the design of a 24-karat gold commemorative coin featuring President Donald Trump, on Thursday (19 March) paving the way for its release as part of celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary on 4 July.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s teenage daughter has been shown driving a battle tank in newly released state media images - an unusually prominent display that has intensified speculation about her future role within the regime.
Tehran’s envoy in Mexico Abolfazi Pasandideh has called on the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to change its World Cup 2026 matches from the United States to Mexico.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Danish troops flown to Greenland in January were ready to blow up airport runways in the event of a potential U.S. attack, Denmark’s public broadcaster DR reported on Thursday (19 March), citing soruces within the country and among European allies.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment