Papa Benedetto Give A Rose

At the end of his address to the US Bishops at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Papa Benedetto gave the Basilica a Golden Rose. This is a special token ofesteem or of reverence & devotion, in this case the reverence & devotion the Holy Father holds for the Blessed Virgin Mary. I have heard about them & know they have been given out. Papa Benedetto has done so 3 times, in 2006, to the Sanctuary of Jasna Gora (Częstochowa - Poland). In 2007 he gave them to the Basilica of Aparecida (Brazil) & to the Mariazell Basilica (Austria). But this is the 1st time I have seen 1 given out. & where better than at the Shrine? (It looked something like the picture at the left.)