Pope returns to sanctuary where he prayed after election and unveils a fresco depicting the event

Pope Leo XIV visited the Basilica Sanctuary of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, on Monday, September 7, 2026, a site of significance for the Augustinian religious order. This visit came two days after his election as pope, following his initial prayer there on May 10, 2025. The Pope unveiled a permanent fresco in the basilica, depicting his act of devotion by praying before the Madonna of Good Counsel, a place that has been a pilgrimage site since the 15th century.

Pope Leo XIV’s act of returning to the sanctuary mirrors that of his predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, who elevated it to a minor basilica in the early 1900s. During his visit, Pope Leo XIV paid homage to the site by writing about his feelings in the guest book, expressing the profound need and desire to pray before the Madonna of Good Counsel, who has been a constant presence in his life.