Shrine of the Apostles
Philip and James the Lesser
After the holy doors, may other doors now open—doors of homes and oases
of peace where dignity may flourish again, where people may learn
nonviolence and the art of reconciliation. May the kingdom of God come.
(Pope Leo XIV, prayer at the foot of the statue of the Immaculate
Conception at the Spanish Steps, December 8, 2025)
When the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed on December 8, 1854, the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome was given the honor of hosting the most solemn and quasi-official celebrations, in recognition of its glorious traditions regarding the cult of the Immaculate Conception. That year, its traditional novena to the Immaculata was deemed a most worthy spiritual preparation for the historic event, with its solemn pontifical rites that followed one another over nine days, attended by cardinals, princes, and bishops. The next Sunday, December 10, a solemn commemorative gathering was organized at the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles by the Academy of the Immaculate Conception. It was a grand finale to the historic celebrations. Immediately following the proclamation of the dogma, the Minister General, Friar Giacinto GUALERNI presented a Golden Rose to Pope Pius IX as a token of filial gratitude and joy from the Franciscan Order. On that memorable day, a beautiful painting by Friar Pasquale Maria SARULLO, a Conventual Franciscan friar from Sicily, was presented. It was displayed at the front of the Basilica, between two large Latin inscriptions written under the direction of Friar Angelo TRULLET, from Constantinople. The painting itself depicted the Immaculate Virgin, flanked by the two most prominent figures in the history of the dogma. On her left, was Blessed John Duns Scotus holding a scroll with the words “Potuit, decuit, ergo fecit” [He could do it, it was fitting, therefore He did it]. On her right, Pope Sixtus IV was seen raising a parchment toward the Virgin which bore the initials of his papal bull “Cum praecelsa,” [With the Most High] the fundamental basis of the proclamation of the dogma. The artwork expressed the zeal shown by the Franciscan Order in general, and by the Conventual Franciscans at the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in particular, in anticipating and preparing for that radiant day of Marian triumph.
This year, the traditional novena to prepare for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, was celebrated with great splendor. It is carried out annually at the magnificent Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles. If we were to sum up the experience of that Novena we might say: “kind words, solemn liturgies, and sweet voices.” Those present experienced a succession of good feelings and emotions, peace of soul, and joy of heart. The homilies by the cardinals were comforting. The symbolic gestures during the liturgies were captivating. Moreover, the sweet and gentle singing of the choir, accompanied by the regal organ, truly lifted the mind to what is beautiful and good, raising it to the Supreme Good. Each evening, a different, eminent cardinal took a turn presiding over the Mass; they complimented and praised us. The Basilica was beautifully prepared and decorated by the sacristan, Friar Maurizio VADILONGA. From November 29 to December 7, 2025, their Eminences: Cardinals RAVASI, HEUNG-SIK, DE DONATIS, ROCHE, ARTIME, GUGGEROTTI, MAKRICKAS, SEMERARO, and GAMBETTI, honored us with their presence and enlightened us with their words. During the December 7 celebration of the novena, Friar Maurizio Di Paolo, the Procurator General of the Order, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination. It was a joyful event for our conventual community and for all those dear to him, particularly his beloved mother, Vittoria, who was a warm and supportive presence. On December 8, His Eminence, Cardinal Leonardo SANDRI, Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals, presided over the Mass. At the conclusion of the celebration, the Minister General, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, renewed the Order’s annual consecration to the Immaculata. As per tradition, each Mass ended with the singing of the “Tota Pulchra,” a hymn composed by Friar Alessandro BORRONI, OFM Conv., (1820–1896). performed by the Constantinian Chorale under the direction of Friar Robert CALLEJA, the “maestro di cappella” of the Basilica. He is from Malta. The Chorale skillfully led the various celebrations with their singing. Also participating in the novena were friars from General Houses in Rome: namely, the Friary of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe; the Friary of St. Anthony at the Baths (“La Vigna”); the Apostolic College of Minor Penitentiaries in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican; and the Friary of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum International College). As they do every year the clerical students at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) provided liturgical service for the novena. They were guided by our confrere Masters of Ceremony, Friars Raimundo Valdo NOGUEIRA and Francis MULENGA. As in PREVIOUS years, Fr. Alejandro PALACIOS VÁZQUEZ, Head of the General Office of Communications, photo-documented the events. On December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Pastor of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles, Friar Francesco CELESTINO, assisted by some dedicated lay volunteers, welcomed the faithful, who came in great numbers to honor the statue of the Virgin Mary in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna. The event began with the firefighters, who arrived at dawn and once again carried out the tradition of placing a floral crown in the arms of the Madonna, after climbing the 100 steps of the ladder to a height of 27 meters [88 feet]. This devotional act started in 1949. This year, Friar Francesco CELESTINO was joined by some clerical students from the Seraphicum together with some members of the Militia of the Immaculata. They helped welcome the faithful and their presence helped support and promote devotion to the Immaculata. In the early afternoon, Pope Leo XIV, having returned from his first international apostolic trip to Turkey and Lebanon (November 27 – December 2, 2025), visited the piazza to offer a floral tribute to the Immaculate Virgin and pray to her for peace and reconciliation among people.
Friar Mimmo CASTIGLIONE, General Archivist
