Rotunda do Sameiro, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Sameiro, in Braga
The Rotunda of Pope John Paul II is located in the Sameiro Sanctuary, in the Sameiro roundabout, on Avenida do Sameiro, parish of Espinho, city of Braga, northern Portugal.
On May 15, 1982, this Sanctuary was visited by Pope John Paul II, where he celebrated a mass that was seen by pilgrims and broadcast on television, being seen by a varied and vast audience never seen before.
On May 15, 1982, this Sanctuary was visited by Pope John Paul II, where he celebrated a mass that was seen by pilgrims and broadcast on television, being seen by a varied and vast audience never seen before.
The Characteristics of the Rotunda of Pope John Paul II in the Sameiro Sanctuary
The Rotunda of Pope John Paul II is located in the lower part of the Sameiro steps, consisting of a small rectangular courtyard covered with an irregular stone floor and other corners in cement stone.
In this space, the statue of Pope John Paul II appears on top of a granite stone (it was inaugurated on June 3, 1984) consisting of a large bronze image of a Pope dressed in a cloak and a miter on his head, and in his right hand he has a cross.
In this yard there are gardens with colorful flowers, flowerbeds with grass, and tributes made by Pope John Paul II and other Archbishops.
The inscription was made by Pope John Paul II: “Continue and constantly intensify here... And throughout Portugal.. Fidelity to God for the Fidelity of the Past”.
On the right side we see the inscription made by the Cardinal Patriarch: “People of Braga and Minho, inexplicable bastion of the Catholic faith and the National soul... I salute these hills and valleys where Portugal was born... I salute you”.
Another inscription signed by the Archbishop Primate “Faith acts erected in the center of this square constitutes a permanent expression of our administration and gratitude to the vicar of Christ who is the symbol of the unity of Christians and the church's fidelity to its divine foundation”.
This square is seen as a sacred place, and in front of the image of Pope John Paul II, many pilgrims lay flowers, light candles and say their prayers.
On December 8, 2004, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception, Pope John Paul II, through his Vatican delegate Eugênio Sales, distinguished the Sanctuary of Sameiro with the Golden Rose.
In this space, the statue of Pope John Paul II appears on top of a granite stone (it was inaugurated on June 3, 1984) consisting of a large bronze image of a Pope dressed in a cloak and a miter on his head, and in his right hand he has a cross.
In this yard there are gardens with colorful flowers, flowerbeds with grass, and tributes made by Pope John Paul II and other Archbishops.
The inscription was made by Pope John Paul II: “Continue and constantly intensify here... And throughout Portugal.. Fidelity to God for the Fidelity of the Past”.
On the right side we see the inscription made by the Cardinal Patriarch: “People of Braga and Minho, inexplicable bastion of the Catholic faith and the National soul... I salute these hills and valleys where Portugal was born... I salute you”.
Another inscription signed by the Archbishop Primate “Faith acts erected in the center of this square constitutes a permanent expression of our administration and gratitude to the vicar of Christ who is the symbol of the unity of Christians and the church's fidelity to its divine foundation”.
This square is seen as a sacred place, and in front of the image of Pope John Paul II, many pilgrims lay flowers, light candles and say their prayers.
On December 8, 2004, in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of the Immaculate Conception, Pope John Paul II, through his Vatican delegate Eugênio Sales, distinguished the Sanctuary of Sameiro with the Golden Rose.
