VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV prayed for Mary’s maternal intercession so that she would help nations avoid lies and hatred and instruct leaders to protect the dignity of all human life.
He also prayed that families find strength, young people find meaning and people of faith seek greater communion because “within the Church, Mother, your children cannot be divided.”
In his homily at Mass for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe in St. Peter’s Basilica Dec. 12, Pope Leo also asked Mary to support him in his ministry as the successor of St. Peter and “grant that, trusting in your protection, we may advance ever more united, with Jesus and among ourselves, toward the eternal dwelling place that he has prepared for us and where you await us.”
While it was his first Mass marking the Marian feast day at the Vatican as pope, as Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, he had already served as the main celebrant at the altar during the Dec. 12 Mass in 2024 and 2023 when he was prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Pope Francis had presided over both of those Masses, but due
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