Pope Leo XIV made a private pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace of Mentorella, a historic Marian site perched 3,300 feet above sea level in the Monti Prenestini mountain range, near Rome.
Newsroom (20/08/2025, Gaudium Press ) On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV made a private pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace of Mentorella, a historic Marian site perched 3,300 feet above sea level in the Monti Prenestini mountain range, near Rome. The visit, which took place on the pontiff’s final full day at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, underscores his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, a hallmark of his young papacy.
The hour-long journey northeast from Castel Gandolfo brought Pope Leo to the serene shrine, where he prayed in the 13th-century church and the adjacent Cave of St. Benedict, a grotto where tradition holds that St. Benedict of Nursia lived as a hermit for two years in the early sixth century. Accompanied by Polish priests of the Resurrectionist order, who have maintained the shrine since 1857, the pope participated in ringing the church bells at noon before leading the Angelus prayer.
“This place, hidden among the mountains, offers a profound sense of peace and a magnificent view of the Italian landscape,” St. John Paul II remarked during his visit on October 29, 1978, two weeks after his election as pope. The Mentorella shrine, a favorite of St. John Paul II, was also visited by Pope Benedict XVI on October 29, 2005, exactly 27 years later, to honor his predecessor’s legacy.
The shrine’s origins trace back to the fourth century, when Emperor Constantine reportedly ordered its construction to commemorate the conversion of St. Eustachius. Consecrated by Pope Sylvester I around 335, the site was later entrusted to Benedictine monks from Subiaco. In the 17th century, Jesuit scholar Father Athanasius Kircher developed the shrine, believing it to be one of the 12 abbeys founded by St. Benedict. Pope Innocent XIII, who died in 1724, requested that his heart be buried there.
Pope Leo XIV’s visit marks his fourth pilgrimage to a Marian shrine since his election on May 8, 2025. Earlier this year, he visited the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano on May 10, leaving a written note expressing his devotion to Our Lady. He also prayed before the “Salus Populi Romani” icon in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major and celebrated Mass at the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano on August 17. These visits reflect a clear Marian focus in Leo’s pontificate, noted by mariologists such as Professor Mark Miravalle of Franciscan University of Steubenville, who points to the pope’s election on the feast of the Mediatrix of All Graces as a possible providential sign.
The Mentorella shrine, with its gable façade, ogival windows, and breathtaking views over a vast valley, remains a cherished destination for pilgrims. The Wojtyla Trail, a scenic hiking path named for St. John Paul II, winds through red rock landscapes and small waterfalls, offering a reflective journey to the shrine. During his visit, Pope Leo lit a candle in the Cave of St. Benedict, a gesture echoing the quiet spirituality of the site.
In his homilies and addresses, Pope Leo has frequently invoked the Blessed Virgin as a source of hope and consolation, particularly for those facing illness and suffering. His visit to Mentorella, following in the footsteps of St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI, reaffirms his commitment to fostering devotion to Our Lady among the faithful.
The Vatican issued a brief statement confirming that after praying at the shrine and spending time with the Resurrectionist priests, Pope Leo returned to Castel Gandolfo for the afternoon. He was scheduled to return to the Vatican that evening, concluding his summer retreat.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCAN News and CNA
Related Images:
