Rome (AsiaNews) - Half an hour of prayer in Saint Mary Major, the first churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This was Pope Francis' first outing, this morning at 8am.
For this first, informal trip, neither pre-announced nor "reported" according to normal security measures that accompany the movements of the Pope, Francis did not use the car, traditionally used by the Popes with the SCV 1 license plate, but with a vehicle with the license plate SCV 3578. The Pope was accompanied by the Prefect of the Pontifical Household, Msgr. George Gaenswein, secretary to Benedict XVI, and the deputy prefect father Leonardo Sapienza.
Despite not having been planned ahead, the visit allowed the new Pope to have a meeting with the people of his diocese, a diocese to which he had presented himself as bishop already yesterday. As soon as word got out of his presence at the basilica, a small crowd gathered in the square outside. However the crowd was unable to greet the Pope who exited the basilica from a side door.
However, outside of the Basilica of Santa Mary Major, he waved at a few students from a school located in front of the basilica, who were leaning out of their windows. The young people called to him and waving their hands to get his attention a greeting to which Pope Francis warmly responded.
