Pursuant to the Lateran Treaty of 1929 between the Holy See and Italy, the Basilica is within Italian territory and not the territory of the Vatican City State. However, the Holy See fully owns the Basilica, and Italy is legally obligated to recognize its full ownership thereof and to concede to it "the immunity granted by International Law to the headquarters of the diplomatic agents of foreign States".
The Basilica is sometimes referred to as Our Lady of the Snows, a name given to it in the Roman Missal from 1568 to 1969 in connection with the liturgical feast of the anniversary of its dedication on 5 August, a feast that was then denominated as Dedication of Saint Mary of the Snows. This name for the basilica had become popular in the 14th century in connection with a legend that the 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia reports thus: "During the pontificate of Liberius, the Roman patrician John and his wife, who were without heirs, made a vow to donate their possessions to the Virgin Mary. They prayed that she might make known to them how they were to dispose of their property in her honor. On 5 August, at the height of the Roman summer, snow fell during the night on the summit of the Esquiline Hill. In obedience to a vision of the Virgin Mary which they had the same night, the couple built a basilica in honor of Mary on the very spot which was covered with snow.
A small group of us made the trek over to the basillica with Father Mike and Father Dave. Unable to return to the bus in time, my father and I took the subway back to the hotel. It was there that I got the full Rome experience, an attempted pick pocket on the subway trip home. It was a very crowded car and it was here that a young teenage girl attempted to pick my pocket as we entered the crowded subway car. Fortunately, I did not have anything in my front pocket. I yelled at her along with another Italian woman as she ran off the train. No harm but just shows you, one must take precautions while traveling!
The following pictures are from around the area of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, the exterior and interior of this beautiful church.
