Salus Populi Romani

Salus Populi Romani (Latin: protector of the Roman people ) is the title used since the 19th century, an icon of the Virgin and Child, which is located in the Cappella Paolina the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The image is the most important historical icon of Mary in Rome. Salus Populi Romani, the words go back to the pagan Roman antiquity. The praetors asked the gods for the salvation of the Roman people, the god of prosperity was Salus Populi Romani also called.

For centuries the icon above the door to the baptistery of the basilica was placed. In 1240, she was named Regina Caeli ( Queen of Heaven ). Later, she replied in the nave of the church since the 13th century it stood in a marble tabernacle. Since 1613 it is located in the Altar of the Cappella Paolina, built specially for them. At least since the 15th century, the icon is considered miraculous.

The icon is one of the so-called Lukas images, one of which was believed to have been painted by St. Luke as portraits of Mary during their lifetime.

The dimensions of the image be 117 × 79 cm. It is painted on a thick cedar board. Mary is wearing a gold -fringed dark blue coat over a purple tunic. The Greek letters above identify the sitter as " Mother of God". The boy Jesus holding a book in his left hand and blesses with the right. The folded hands of Mary distinguish this as an early icon before the type of Hodegetria thus further developed in the 10th century that Mary is with the right hand of Christ. She holds the baby close and it offers the viewer is less than in other Marian images. And Mary in her hand a Mappa (or Mappula, a kind embroidered ceremonial handkerchief ) holds, which was regarded as an imperial symbol, her royal status as the Regina Caeli is emphasized, even though she is wearing (on the painted picture ) no crown.

According to the study by Gerhard Wolf, the painting can be dated in its original form in late antiquity. The current situation is due to an over-painting in the 13th century, following a number of earlier revisions.

Early veneration of the image will be evidenced by the production of copies already in the 8th century, as well as her role on the Feast of the Assumption in Rome, where the Marian icon from the Lateran was carried in a procession to Santa Maria Maggiore to the Salus Populi Romani icon to encounter.

The icon was the preferred image of the Virgin of several popes. 593, Pope Gregory the Great carry them through Rome to pray for the end of the plague. 1571 Pope Pius V prayed to the icon for the victory in the Battle of Lepanto. 1837 Pope Gregory XVI prayed. to her for the end of the cholera epidemic. Eugenio Pacelli ( later Pope Pius XII. ) Celebrated on April 3, 1899, one day after his ordination, his first Holy Mass ( the first Mass ) before this icon. In 1953 she was carried through Rome to initiate the first Marian year in church history. 1954 crowned Pius XII. them with the introduction of a new Marie festival. A copy of the icon John Paul II gave the youth of the world, accompanied since the World Youth Day Cross.