Pope Francis thanks Our Lady for Mongolia visit

By Devin Watkins

The Pope’s visits to the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani serve as prayerful bookends of his Apostolic Journeys abroad.

Before departure, he travels the papal Basilica of St. Mary Major to ask for Our Lady’s protection, and upon his return to Rome, the Pope returns to thank her.

Pope Francis followed that tradition on Monday as he concluded his Apostolic Journey to Mongolia.

According to the Holy See Press Office, he visited the Basilica on Monday as he returned to the Vatican from Rome’s Fiumicino Aiport.

"This afternoon, upon his return from Mongolia, as is customary at the end of each Apostolic Journey, Pope Francis traveled to the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where he paused in prayer before the icon of the Virgin Salus Populi Romani. He then returned to the Vatican at the end of the visit," read a press release.

Special bouquet from Mongolia

As a special token of his affection, Pope Francis placed a bouquet of flowers on the altar below the ancient Roman icon.

A young Mongolian lady had given the bouquet to the Pope just before he boarded the papal plane in Ulaanbaatar as an expression of gratitude for his visit on the part of all the people of Mongolia.

And the Pope brought that gift to Our Lady, along with his prayers for the many people he encountered during his four-day visit to the Asian nation.