Pope Francis stated that the Blessed Virgin Mary is the face of God. During the celebration of the 1,500th anniversary of the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as “Santa Maria in Portico,” in Rome’s Campitelli, the Pope emphasized the importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Christian life and the need to continue the Church’s missionary mission. This message was sent to members of the “Clerical Congregation of the Holy Mother of God,” who serve at the Marian center where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared.
Monsignor Joji Vadakara, Vatican News
Pope Francis called for seeing the Blessed Virgin Mary as a sign of comfort and sure hope. The Pope urged that Mary is the Mother of God and a refuge for all of us. He wrote that the Blessed Virgin Mary points to her Son, Christ, as the hope of unity, salvation, the way of peace, and the answer to people’s questions regarding life, and for all of us. The Pope wrote this in his message prepared for the 1500th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated as “Santa Maria in Portico.” The Pope signed his message to the members of the “Ordine dei Chierici Regolari della Madre di Dio – OMD” (Order of Regular Clerics of the Mother of God – OMD), who have cared for the place where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared for the past 450 years, on June 29, the feast day of Saint Peter the Apostle.
Referring to the difficult circumstances the world is facing today, the Pope questioned how we can remain passive in this situation without striving for and praying for peace. The Pope called on all, especially the priests of the “Clergy of the Holy Mother of God,” to pray for peace and become peacemakers.
In his message, Pope Francis expressed his joy in joining together in prayer with the “Clergy of the Holy Mother of God” on this Jubilee celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, known as “Santa Maria in Portico.”
In his message, the Pope recalled that the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary known as “Santa Maria in Portico” began to be celebrated in connection with the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the house of St. Galla, a noblewoman named Patricia, on July 17, 524 in Campitelli, Rome, in the presence of Pope St. John I. Since then, the Pope wrote, the “doorstep” where Saint Galla received the poor and pilgrims became a Marian pilgrimage center and a place of mercy. The Pope explained that this tradition led followers of the spirituality of St. John Leonardi to minister to the poor and needy and to promote their welcome. The Pope reminded us that the spirit of Saint Leonardi calls upon us to transform the places where we live and our churches into an open porch that can offer consolation and comfort to those who suffer from the various forms of poverty that have become a part of life.
Recalling that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared during a difficult time for the Church, the Pope specifically mentioned how she spread her mantle over Pope John I during the apparition, and how he sacrificed his life for peace. In the midst of fratricidal wars and political entanglements, he endured without abandoning his faith and gave his life, the Pope explained.
Recalling that St. John Leonardi founded the “Congregation of Reformed Priests of the Blessed Virgin Mary” recognizing the importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Pope wrote that this was to return the Church to the apostolic nature of its beginnings. He added that he understood that Christ was the only medicine capable of healing the evils of the Church and of humanity.
In his message, the Pope wrote that this journey of faith with the Blessed Virgin Mary, in this congregation of priests dedicated to her, calls upon you to live a stronger missionary spirit and to progress in the spiritual life, as St. Leonardi reminds us.
The Pope expressed his wish that the Jubilee celebrations, which you are now regarding to experience under the protection of the “Pumukhanath,” will lead you to the memories of the evangelizing activities of Saint Leonardi, who wrote the First Code of the Urbanian College under the Propaganda Fidei, in order to prepare priests ready to take on the missionary challenges of the time.
In his message, the Pope wrote that celebrating 450 years of the monastic order of the “Priests of the Mother of God” founded by Saint John Leonardi in 2024, as the Church prepares for its Jubilee in 2025, is a sign of God’s providence.
Pope Francis Calls Mary the Face of God, Exhorts Peacemaking Amidst Global Crisis
In a message marking the 1,500th anniversary of the veneration of the Holy Mother as “Pumukhanath” in Rome’s Campitelli, Pope Francis underscored the profound significance of Mary in Christian life and urged continued missionary efforts by the Church. The Pope, addressing the members of the “Clerical Congregation of the Holy Mother of God,” declared Mary as the “face of God” and a beacon of comfort and hope amidst global turmoil.
Mary as a Refuge and Sign of Hope
Pope Francis emphasized that Mary, the Mother of God, provides refuge and solace for all, serving as a guiding light in times of uncertainty. He stressed that Mary points to her Son, Christ, as the ultimate source of unity, salvation, and peace, offering answers to life’s profound questions. This message was conveyed in a letter prepared for the 1,500th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, venerated as “Santa Maria in Portico.” The letter was addressed to the members of the “Ordine dei Chierici Regolari della Madre di Dio – OMD,” who have cared for the site of Mary’s apparition for the past 450 years.
A Call for Peacemaking and Prayer
Addressing the current global challenges, Pope Francis poignantly questioned how we can remain passive in the face of adversity without striving for peace and engaging in fervent prayer. He urged all, particularly the priests of the “Clerical Congregation of the Holy Mother of God,” to become peacemakers and dedicate themselves to prayer for peace.
Celebrating the Jubilee and Mary’s Apparition
Pope Francis expressed joy at joining the “Clerical Congregation of the Holy Mother of God” in celebrating the Jubilee commemorating the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary as “Santa Maria in Portico.”
Historical Significance of the Apparition
The message delves into the historical context of the Holy Mother’s apparition. On July 17, 524, in Campitelli, Rome, the apparition took place in the home of St. Galla, a noblewoman named Patricia, in the presence of Pope St. John I. The “doorstep” where St. Galla welcomed the poor and pilgrims subsequently evolved into a Marian pilgrimage center and a site of mercy. This tradition, the Pope explained, inspired the followers of St. John Leonardi’s spirituality to minister to the impoverished and needy, promoting their reception and care.
Legacy of St. John Leonardi and the “Congregation of Reformed Priests of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Pope Francis highlighted the legacy of St. John Leonardi, who founded the “Congregation of Reformed Priests of the Blessed Virgin Mary.” Recalling the challenging circumstances faced by the Church at the time, the Pope described how Mary’s mantle covered Pope John I during the apparition, and how he ultimately sacrificed his life for peace during a period of political turmoil and fratricidal wars.
Emphasizing St. John Leonardi’s intention to restore the Church to its apostolic roots, Pope Francis wrote that the “Congregation of Reformed Priests of the Blessed Virgin Mary” recognized Christ as the sole remedy for the ills of the Church and humanity.
Renewed Missionary Spirit
Pope Francis emphasized that the spiritual journey alongside Mary, undertaken by the priests dedicated to her, calls for a strengthened missionary spirit and advancement in spiritual life, as St. Leonardi encouraged.
A Sign of Providence
Pope Francis concluded his message by observing that the celebration of 450 years of the monastic order of the “Priests of the Mother of God,” founded by Saint John Leonardi in 2024, coincides with the Church’s preparation for its Jubilee in 2025. This synchronicity, he emphasized, is a testament to God’s providence.
Keywords:
* Pope Francis
* Holy Mother
* Mary
* Pumukhanath
* Campitelli
* Rome
* Christian life
* Missionary mission
* Church
* Cleric Congregation of the Holy Mother of God
* peace
* prayer
* peacemaking
* Santa Maria in Portico
* St. John Leonardi
* Congregation of Reformed Priests of the Blessed Virgin Mary
* Jubilee
* Apparition
* Blessed Virgin Mary
* St. Galla
* Patricia
* Pope St. John I
* spirituality
* poverty
* needy
* missionary spirit
* God’s providence
