Santa Maria Maggiore
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The Papal Basilica of Saint Mary the Great, also informally known as the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, is a Roman Catholic Papal Basilica and one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. The largest Mar
Façade of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore facing the Piazza
The Blessed Virgin Mary overlooking Pope Liberius scrapes the outline of the foundation of the basilica into the snow. By Italian artist Masolino da Panicale, circa 15th century, Museo di Capodimonte.
The Piazza and Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, by Giovanni Paolo Panini
One of the earliest photographs of Santa Maria Maggiore, taken by French photographer Joseph-Philibert Girault de Prangey in 1842
Pope Francis
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Pope Francis was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 13 March 2013 until his death in 2025. He was the first Jesuit pope, the first Latin American, and the first pope bo
Santa Maria Maggiore
…and each was associated with one of the five ancient patriarchates. Santa Maria Maggiore was associated with the Patriarchate of Antioch. In 2024, Pope Francis reinstated the title, reversing Pope Benedict XVI's renunciation of it but, so far, the church designation has remained unaltered. The five papal…
Francis in 2014
Pope Francis
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (fourth boy from the left in the third row from the top) at age 12, Salesian College (c. 1948–1949)
Bergoglio in 2008