Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine, has a notable connection to the icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel. Shortly after his election in May 2025, he visited the Shrine (or Basilica) of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Genazzano, Italy, which houses the famous and mysterious icon of the Virgin Mary known as “Our Lady of Good Counsel” or “Mother of Good Counsel.”
During his visit on May 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV prayed before this icon and spoke about the Virgin Mary’s protection and the importance of devotion to her. He encouraged the faithful to be always faithful to Mary, saying, “As the mother never abandons her children, you must also be faithful to the Mother.” He also led a prayer to the Mother of Good Counsel, with those present.
The Basilica is first recorded in the 11th century, and in 1356, the Colonna family, lords of Genazzano, entrusted the church to the Augustinian friars, who lived nearby and began to oversee its spiritual care. By the mid-15th century, the church was in disrepair. In 1467, the Augustinians began rebuilding it, with significant financial support from Petruccia, a devout local widow who donated all her belongings to the project, though she eventually exhausted her resource.
During the reconstruction, a miraculous event occurred on April 25, 1467, when a fresco of the Virgin Mary and Child appeared on a wall inside the church. Tradition holds that the fresco was miraculously transported from a church in Shkodër, Albania, which was threatened by Ottoman invasion. The fresco was suspended in the air without visible support, a phenomenon that astonished witnesses and was seen as a divine sign.
Inspired by the miracle, the unfinished church was quickly completed to properly house the fresco. It became a center of pilgrimage, with many devotees coming to venerate the image, now known as Our Lady of Good Counsel. The Augustinians built a residence for themselves adjacent to the church, continuing their ministry there to this day.
Over the centuries, the church gained prominence and papal recognition. On March 17, 1903, Pope Leo XIII elevated the sanctuary to the status of a minor basilica, acknowledging its spiritual and historical significance.
Over time, the original church structure was damaged by earthquakes and largely destroyed during World War Two; the icon was not harmed.
In the years that followed, the church was gradually expanded and beautified, evolving into the present-day basilica, which continues to attract pilgrims worldwide, who honor the miraculous fresco and the devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Delving deeper, we learn that the image of Our Lady of Good Counsel is believed to have descended from heaven in 1467, because of a series of extraordinary and miraculous events witnessed by the people of Genazzano, Italy. On April 25, 1467, during the feast of Saint Mark, a mysterious white cloud appeared above the unfinished wall of the parish church. This cloud was accompanied by celestial music and bright rays of light that veiled the sun, creating the impression that the gates of heaven had opened. As the cloud slowly descended and vanished, it revealed a beautiful fresco of the Virgin Mary holding the Infant Jesus, which astonished the gathered crowd.
The miraculous nature of the event was further emphasized by the church bells ringing joyfully on their own, and other churches in the town echoing the chimes simultaneously without human intervention. The people present were deeply moved and believed the image had come directly from heaven, calling it the “Madonna del Paradiso” (Virgin of Paradise) and “Mother of Good Counsel.” This belief was reinforced by the story of two Albanian devotees, Sclavis and Giorgi, who had been instructed by the Virgin Mary in a dream that the image would leave Scutari (modern-day Shkodër, Albania) so that it would not be destroyed by the Ottomans. The two of them followed the image, which was said to have traveled miraculously across the Adriatic Sea, and later recognized it in Genazzano, confirming its heavenly origin.
The event’s timing, the supernatural phenomena surrounding the cloud and music, the spontaneous ringing of bells, and the fulfillment of the Virgin’s promise to save the image from destruction led the faithful to believe that the fresco had been miraculously transported from heaven to Genazzano, making it uniquely revered as a divine sign and source of miracles.
The other miraculous aspect of this icon is that it does not hang on a wall in the usual way. Instead, this miraculous icon has been inexplicably suspended in mid-air, close to the wall of the chapel, for nearly 550 years. When the Basilica was bombed and destroyed during World War Two, the icon itself was not harmed at all, and remained intact.
Thus, unlike typical icons or paintings that are hung on walls, the Virgin Mother of Good Counsel icon is famously known for its mysterious hovering position within the sanctuary, making it a remarkable and revered object of veneration.
As noted, the icon is a fresco executed on a very thin layer of plaster, described as being no thicker than an eggshell. This plaster layer is so thin that it would have been impossible for any human hand to remove it without damage. The icon measures approximately 40 to 45 centimeters (16 to 18 inches) in height and width, and the thinness of the plaster is a remarkable feature, contributing to the icon’s miraculous reputation and preservation over centuries despite earthquakes and bombings.
The image depicts Mary wearing a blue mantle symbolizing humanity, and the Child Jesus in a red robe signifying divinity. Above them is a rainbow, a biblical sign of peace. This icon has been a center of pilgrimage and devotion for centuries, attracting popes and saints such as St. John Paul II, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Benedict XVI, who placed a reproduction of the icon in the Vatican Gardens in 2009.
The title “Mother of Good Counsel” was officially recognized by Pope Leo XIII in 1903, who added the invocation “Mater Boni Consilii, ora pro nobis” (“Mother of Good Counsel, pray for us”) to the Litany of Loreto. The devotion emphasizes Mary’s role in offering wise counsel, inspired by her biblical words at the Wedding Feast of Cana.
Mary’s “yes” at Cana relates to her title as Our Lady of Good Counsel because it exemplifies her role as a wise and faithful guide, who directs others to follow Jesus. At the Wedding Feast of Cana, Mary instructs the servants with the words, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5), which are seen as her last recorded words in the Bible and a timeless counsel to trust and obey Christ. This moment reflects her ongoing role as a source of good counsel, encouraging believers to listen to Jesus’ guidance.
Her “yes” to God’s plan, first expressed at the Annunciation when she accepted to be the Mother of Jesus, is the foundational act of obedience and faith that underpins her title as Our Lady of Good Counsel. By saying “yes,” Mary cooperated fully with God’s will, becoming a model of faith and obedience for all Christians. This initial “yes” led to her unique role in salvation history and continues to inspire believers to trust in God’s plan.
Thus, Mary’s counsel at Cana is a direct extension of her faithful “yes” to God, demonstrating her role as a heavenly guide who provides wise advice and encourages trust in Jesus’ word, embodying the essence of Our Lady of Good Counsel.
The Virgin Mother of Good Counsel is also associated with prayers and novenas seeking her guidance and intercession for forgiveness, salvation, and strength against spiritual challenges. The devotion highlights Mary’s unique role in guiding the Church and the faithful through difficult times by providing divine wisdom and counsel.
The symbols in the icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel carry deep spiritual and theological meanings:
- Mary’s Blue Robe: Symbolizes tranquility, understanding, patience, and is traditionally the color associated with the Mother of God, highlighting her purity and heavenly role.
- The Christ Child: Resting on Mary’s left arm, with their cheeks touching tenderly, the Child’s left hand gently grasps the rim of Mary’s dress, symbolizing intimate maternal love and the close bond between Mother and Son. His eyes look upward toward God the Father, representing divine majesty and connection to the Holy Trinity.
- Two Halos: Surrounding Mary and Jesus’ heads, framed by the iris, signify their holiness and divine nature.
- Mary’s Gaze: Mary looks outward toward the viewer, symbolizing her role as mediator who receives prayers and transmits them to God, embodying the Catholic doctrine of the mediation of graces.
- The Rainbow: In the original Genazzano image, a rainbow appears above Mary and Jesus, symbolizing peace and God’s covenant with humanity.
- The Image Style (Eleousa or Glykophilousa): The painting is modeled on the Byzantine icon of the Madonna of Tenderness, emphasizing compassion, maternal love, and tenderness.
These symbols collectively express Mary’s role as a tender, wise, and loving mother who guides the faithful with divine counsel, reinforcing her title as Our Lady of Good Counsel. The icon’s elements highlight her purity, maternal intimacy, mediation, and connection to divine wisdom and peace.
It is reported that Mary’s facial expressions and coloring appear to change, depending on the interaction with the faithful—smiling to convey joy or showing seriousness to express displeasure. Some even claim to have seen the image breathe, and photos taken at different times reveal varying nuances.
The image has been associated with countless miracles, including physical healings and spiritual conversions. Within 110 days of its arrival, 161 miracles were recorded, and many lame, paralytic, and blind persons were reportedly cured upon visiting the chapel.
The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Scutari, Albania, is a significant Marian shrine. The current church was constructed starting in 1917, at the foot of Rozafa Castle, on the site where the original image was venerated in 1467. It was built under Austro-Hungarian occupation during World War I and completed in 1930. The church was destroyed during the Albanian Cultural Revolution but was rebuilt after the fall of communism, with Pope John Paul II blessing its cornerstone in 1993. In April 2024, the church was elevated to the status of a minor basilica, making it the first basilica in Albania.
Historically, this church had been a place of shared veneration by both Catholics and Muslims, with some conflicts over its use resolved by Ottoman authorities. The church is deeply revered by Albanian Catholics and is linked to the devotion spread worldwide through the miraculous fresco and its associated legends. The basilica features a chapel dedicated to Our Mother of Good Counsel, where the image is represented in mosaic form, reflecting the tender and intimate portrayal of Mary with the Christ Child.
In Albanian Marian devotion, the fresco embodies Mary’s role as a tender mother who reassures her children with the message: “Fear not, I am your Mother, and you are and shall be my beloved children.” This maternal image offers comfort, hope, and counsel, especially in times of hardship, such as during the Ottoman invasions when the Albanian people sought her protection.
The devotion to the Virgin Mother of Good Counsel, rooted in this miraculous fresco, continues to unite Albanian Catholics spiritually, symbolizing resilience, faith, and the enduring presence of Mary as a guide and protector. The fresco’s legacy is celebrated annually, and it remains a source of inspiration and miracles, reinforcing its vital role in Albanian religious and cultural identity.
Pope Leo XIV has shown a profound and longstanding devotion to this icon, which is deeply connected to his Augustinian roots.
As noted, during his visit on May 10, 2025, Pope Leo XIV prayed before the icon, recited the prayer of St. John Paul II dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel, and addressed the faithful gathered there. He expressed his trust in the Virgin Mary as a companion of “light and wisdom,” urging the people to remain faithful to her as a mother never abandons her children. He described the shrine and the Virgin Mary as a great gift to the local community and the Church.
