When Pope Francis gave his “Urbi et Orbi” blessing in an empty Saint Peter’s Square on March 27, 2020, it was viewed the world over.
Present there on that rainy night was the miraculous crucifix from the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome.
That same crucifix had miraculously survived a fire in 1519 that destroyed the original church and everything else inside. Then, when a plague ravaged the city in 1522, the crucifix was carried in a solemn penitential procession that lasted 16 days. The procession, led by a Spanish Cardinal named Raimondo Vich, included clergy, noblemen and everyday people of Rome. The plague ended right after that.
A few days after Pope Francis gave his blessing, rumors spread that due to the crucifix being exposed to the rain the day of the blessing, it had “exploded” or “suffered irreparable damage”. This was not true. It did, in fact, suffer some water damage…but nothing severe. The Catholic News Agency reports that Fr. Enrico Maria Casini, who is in charge of San Marcello al Corso in Rome, has said the damage to the miraculous crucifix from rain “is not serious,” from what he understands, and it is expected to be returned to the Church of San Marcello al Corso by Easter.
We are saddened that some “traditional Catholic” websites are so eager to publish sensationalized news..sometimes we feel that they will do anything to put Pope Francis in a bad light…that they print anything without bothering to get the facts..SHAME ON THEM.
While we may not agree…or understand…all the actions that take place under Pope Francis’ pontificate, we do not presume to pass judgement, nor do we publish un-substantiated rumors.
Here at the Catholic Travel Guide we try our best to verify any items that we post, and if we cannot verify the facts, we don’t just throw it out there. We expect the same from other sources as well.
