The Pope Drives Through Rome to Basilica of St Mary The Great Photo Shows: The Pope Delivering his benediction to the vast concourse below from The Balcony of St. Mary The Great. The Pope drove through Rome to the Basilica of St Mary the Great Yesterday Oct II, to pay The first Papal visit There for 63 years. A vast Concourse gathered in the Square below when the Pope Appeared on the Balcony and delivered the benediction. October 12, 1933. (Photo by The Associated Press)