VATICAN CITY, DEC 8, 2004 (VIS) - This afternoon, for the 27th time as Roman Pontiff, John Paul II went to Piazza di Spagna to place the traditional floral wreath at the foot of the statue of Mary in celebration of the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Before arriving in the square, the Pope stopped briefly in front of the Church of the Most Holy Trinity to greet members of the Via Condotti Storeowners Association.
This famous square in the heart of Rome is named for the Palazzo di Spagna, a magnificent building on the piazza that has housed the Spanish embassy to the Holy See since 1647. Early in the morning, Roman firemen had placed a garland atop the statue of Mary and by day's end, thousands of Romans followed in their footsteps, offering floral homages to Mary. Single flowers as well as bouquets were placed on a table at the foot of the column bearing the statue where Conventual Franciscan Friars and Minim Friars arranged them in an orderly fashion, often creating elegant wreaths.
The ancient Roman column of cipolin marble was found in 1777 in the monastery of Our Lady of the Conception in central Rome and brought to Piazza di Spagna in 1856 to celebrate the proclamation of the dogma two years earlier.
Upon his arrival shortly after 4 p.m., the Holy Father blessed an immense basket of white roses which was placed at the foot of the column bearing Mary's statue. He then prayed with the faithful to Mary, recalling the proclamation 150 years ago by Pope Pius IX of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.
"Virgin Immaculate! Your intact spiritual beauty is for us a living source of trust and hope. Having you as our Mother, Holy Virgin, reassures us on the path of life as a pledge of eternal salvation. For this, to you, O Mary, do we turn. Help us to build a better world, where the life of man is always loved and defended, every form of violence is prohibited and peace is tenaciously sought by everyone.
"Virgin Immaculate! In this year of the Eucharist help us to celebrate and adore with renewed faith and ardent love the holy mystery of the Body and Blood of Christ."
AC/IMMACULATE CONCEPTION/PIAZZA SPAGNA VIS 20041209
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