Papal audience: Senegalese pilgrims received by the Holy Father at Saint Peter’s Basilica

It was in an atmosphere that was both jovial and solemn that the pilgrims of justice and peace were received at Saint Peter’s Basilica by Pope Leo XIV.

Tears, sighs and murmurs were the best shared feelings at the papal audience held at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV was greeted with jubilations of joy by the various pilgrims who met in the seat of the papacy.

All dressed in the same fabric, Senegal flag in hand, the pilgrims of justice and peace made the room vibrate at the entrance of the Holy Father into Saint Peter’s Basilica. Some, with tears almost in their eyes, could not contain their joy as they laid their eyes on the Holy Father for the first time.

Pope Leo Jean-Christophe Diouf expresses his joy after meeting the Holy Father.

Also read: Pilgrimage to the holy places of Christianity: The pilgrims of Justice and Peace climbed the Holy Stairs on their knees

“The joy cannot be greater than the one I felt today when I saw the Pope walk through the door of the Basilica. I never thought I would be able to experience this moment because I only saw it on television. Praise God, I am in heaven,” said pilgrim Jean Christophe Diouf.

At the end of the audience, the pilgrims of justice and peace went to Assisi, more than 200 km from Rome. In the city of Saint-François-d’Assise, the pilgrims of justice attended the mass presided over by Monseigneur Augustin Simmel Ndiaye, bishop of Saint-Louis.

Speaking, Father Martial Goram Mbaye, in his homily, reminded the pilgrims of justice and peace of the mission of the Christian which is to be at the service of others like Saint Francis who, although coming from a wealthy background, left everything to be at the service of the poor. Abbot Martial Goram Mbaye also encouraged pilgrims to show more solidarity, especially in this time of pilgrimage to the holy places of Christianity.

Marie Bernadette SENE (Special Envoy)