The Pope’s Crucifix

Pope Francis praying in front of the crucifix in St. Marcellus church.

On the famous Via del Corso, known for being one of the busiest streets for shopping in Rome, is the church of Saint Marcellus, which holds a venerated and miraculous image of Christ crucified. The church of Saint Marcellus was first built in the 4th century, sponsored by Pope Marcellus I, who was later persecuted by the Roman emperor Maxentius and condemned to do the heaviest work until he died from exhaustion. His remains are kept in the church. On the night between May 22 and 23, 1519, the church was ravaged by a terrible fire that reduced it completely to ashes. At dawn, the desolated people came to see the tragic scene of still-smoking debris. There, they found the crucifix which had been hanging over the main altar, providentially intact, illuminated by the oil lamp, which still burned at the image’s feet. They immediately shouted that it was a miracle, and the most devout members of the faithful began to gather every Friday to pray and light lamps at the foot of the wooden image. Thus was born the “Archconfraternity of the Holy Crucifix in Urbe,” which exists even to this day. However, this was not the only miracle that happened in connection to the crucifix. The next one dates to three years later, in 1522, when a terrible plague struck the city of Rome so severely that it was feared the city would simply cease to exist.

The miraculous crucifix at St. Marcellus church in Rome.

In desperation, the friars of the Servants of Mary decided to carry the crucifix in a penitential procession from the church of St. Marcellus, eventually arriving to St. Peter’s Basilica. The authorities tried to prevent the religious procession, but the people in their collective desperation ignored the prohibition. The image of Our Lord was carried through the streets of the city for several days by popular acclamation. When the crucifix returned to its place, the plague stopped completely, and Rome was saved from being exterminated. Since 1650, the miraculous crucifix has been carried to St. Peter’s Basilica during each holy year. Pope Francis also prayed before the Holy Crucifix on March 15, 2020, asking for an end to the scourge of the coronavirus that has taken so many lives around the world. That image was moved to St. Peter’s and it was present for the historical ‘Urbi et Orbi’ blessing that Francis gave a year ago in St. Peter’s square, on March 27, 2020.