Pope Francis has been a special devotee of Peruvian Lord of Miracles saint since long before being elected Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, said Manuel Orrillo, Religious Administrator of Peru's Black Christ Brotherhood.
In statements to Andina news agency, Orrillo recalled Jorge Mario Bergoglio had served as spiritual director of the Lord of Miracles Brotherhood in Mendoza province (Argentina).
In 2010, Argentinean-born Bergoglio celebrated a mass in Buenos Aires in the presence of the Christ of Pachacamilla image.
As proof of said devotion, His Holiness allows the entry of the Christ icon into St. Peter's Basilica once every October.
Last year, Pope Francis sent a special greeting to the Peruvian community based in Rome, within the framework of celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the arrival of the first Black Jesus image in Italy.
History
Lord of Miracles' processions bring the Purple Christ to the streets of downtown Lima.
Dressed in purple robes, thousands of worshipers gather to pay homage to Peru's most revered religious icon. The saint is widely known in the Andean nation.
The icon is venerated by people bound together by the common hope that the Lord will protect and give them strength in their daily lives.