Masked Pope Francis goes on a surprise trip for the Immaculate Conception

On Tuesday's feast of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Francis made a surprise visit to Piazza di Spagna in Rome to pay homage to the Virgin Mary, and to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he celebrated a private mass.

Every year on the occasion of the feast - a solemnity that celebrates the sinless conception of Mary - the pope visits the famous column of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary in Piazza di Spagna to lay a crown and offer a prayer to the Mother of God.

When the pope goes, the whole square is typically filled with locals and tourists, packing their bags to take a look at the pope, hear his prayer and do their own act of devotion. The base of the statue is usually loaded with flowers during the festival.

The pope was not expected to go this year due to concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. The Vatican announced on November 30 that instead of going to Piazza di Spagna as usual, Francis would perform a "private act of devotion" that did not involve the public.

However, it turns out that the pope's private act of homage was to visit the square alone, without giving prior notice.

He arrived in the square around 7:00. local time, while it was still a little dark, and placed a bouquet of white roses at the base of the statue, pausing for a moment of prayer in the heavy rain while a helper held an umbrella over her head.

According to a Vatican statement, the Pope prayed that Mary "watch with love over Rome and its inhabitants" and entrusted to her "all those who in this city and in the world are afflicted by illness and despair".

Pope Francis then went to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where he prayed in front of the famous icon of the Salus Popoli Romani (Health of the Roman people) and celebrated mass in the Basilica's Nativity Chapel before returning to the Vatican.

Santa Maria Maggiore is a favorite of Pope Francis, who usually stops to pray in front of the icon before and after international travel.

During his trip to Piazza di Spagna, the pope - criticized for not wearing the mask during public liturgies and audiences - wore a mask for the entire visit, the images of which were shared on social media.