JOAN’S ROME, POPE GREGORY AND WHAT POPE FRANCIS DID TODAY…
On my March 9 blog, I wrote: “Days ago at dinner with three friends, we were talking about the need for a very special prayer service or liturgy because of the coronavirus situation. I told them the story of Pope Gregory I who, in 591, for the plague that struck Rome, organized a procession of faithful to pray for an end to the plague.
“I said, for those of us who are believers in Our Lord and in the power of prayer and in miracles, think how inspiring it would be if the Holy Father were to pray the rosary for an end to the coronavirus scourge before the image of his (and our) beloved icon Salus populi romani at St. Mary Major Basilica and have faithful throughout the world pray with him for a miracle!
“Corona, by the way, means crown in Italian and is also another word for rosary!
“This could be done via Vatican media, the Vatican’s YouTube page, Facebook Live and transmissions by the world’s television. Millions praying with Pope Francis!“ https://joansrome.wordpress.com/2020/03/09/pope-st-gregory-the-great-and-the-plague-of-rome/
And, as you saw, Francis did indeed pray before his beloved Mary today!
Photos – Vatican media:
Joan's Rome 