Ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s imminent visit to Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda in Albano to celebrate Mass with the poor, the Shrine’s Rector Father Adriano Gibellini, shares the atmosphere of anticipation ahead of the Pope’s arrival and recalls the roots of an ancient place associated with protection from the plague, refugees during World War II, and the current presence of immigrants who entrust themselves to the Blessed Mother.
The Diocese of Albano is buzzing with preparations to welcome Pope Leo XIV, who returns here to spend time with the most vulnerable.
On August 17, he will celebrate Mass in the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda, a deeply venerated place by the residents of this Lazio town.
Caritas, together with the Liturgical Office, will lead the celebration.
Leading the Offertory procession will be a Peruvian family welcomed by the “Cardinal Pizzardo” House, a safe haven established by the Diocese in 1993, primarily for families in difficulty, especially political refugees.
Speaking to Vatican Media’s Antonella Palermo, the rector of the Shrine, Father Adriano Gibellini, shares the atmosphere of anticipation ahead of the Pope’s arrival.
Father Adriano, what is the history of the Shrine of Santa Maria della Rotonda?
It’s important to highlight that the Pope chose the heart of the Diocese for this meeting—the oldest religious building still standing. The temple was built in 94 A.D. Originally, it was a nymphaeum of Emperor Domitian’s villa, later converted into a thermal bath for the soldiers of the Second Parthian Legion. However, tradition tells us that by the 8th century, this building had already become a point of reference for the Christians of the early Albano community. Tradition holds that an icon of the Virgin was brought from Greece and placed in this temple. From 1060, with the consecration of the temple, we are certain that it was officially used for Christian worship.
The people of Albano have always shown great devotion to this image of the Madonna, particularly in the 1800s—a difficult time socially and because of damage from earthquakes and storms in the Castelli region, compounded by outbreaks of the plague. The Madonna became the focal point for the prayers of the Albano people. In 1867, the Bishop of Albano, the Servant of God Cardinal Alfieri, made a solemn vow: if the city were spared from the plague, her intercession would be celebrated every first Sunday of August. And so it was—within a week, the cholera outbreak ended. Sadly, the bishop himself died of the disease shortly after.
Credit: Vatican News