Citing the Second Vatican Council’s teachings on the Assumption, the Pontiff described Mary as an “icon of hope for her pilgrim children throughout history,”
Newsroom (15/08/2025 Gaudium Press )On the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, Pope Leo XIV presided over Mass in Castel Gandolfo, delivering a profound Angelus reflection that wove together theology, literature, and a fervent call for peace. Citing the Second Vatican Council’s teachings on the Assumption, the Pontiff described Mary as an “icon of hope for her pilgrim children throughout history,” a radiant symbol guiding humanity through turbulent times.
Drawing from Dante Alighieri’s Paradiso, Pope Leo referenced the prayer in the final canto, which hails the Virgin Mary as “the living fountain-head of hope.” He tied this imagery to the theme of the current Jubilee Year, Pilgrims of Hope, emphasizing that pilgrims require a “beautiful and attractive goal” to inspire and sustain their journey. “The goal of this journey of life is God,” he declared, noting that the human heart is irresistibly drawn to divine beauty.
Reflecting on the mystery of Mary as the mother of Jesus, Pope Leo underscored her life as a “pilgrimage of hope” alongside her Son, from His birth to her Assumption into the heavenly homeland. This mystery, he said, is one of “love and freedom,” exemplified by the free assent of both Jesus and Mary to their divine callings. In times of personal, familial, or communal hardship, the Pope urged the faithful to “lift our gaze” to Mary, “our Mother,” to rediscover “the hope that does not disappoint.”
Following the Angelus, Pope Leo entrusted his prayer for peace to Mary’s intercession, noting her compassion for “the evils that afflict her children, especially the little ones and the weak.” He recalled her centuries-long presence through messages and apparitions, offering solace to those in need.
The Pope connected the day’s solemnity to the historical context of the Assumption’s dogmatic proclamation by Pope Pius XII in 1950, in the wake of World War II’s devastation. Quoting his predecessor, Pope Leo highlighted Pius XII’s hope that reflection on Mary’s Assumption would reaffirm “the value of human life” and prevent the “butchery” of war. “We sadly feel powerless in the face of the growing spread of violence in the world – a violence increasingly deaf and unfeeling toward any impulse of humanity,” Pope Leo lamented, echoing Pius XII’s words as a sobering reminder of their enduring relevance.
Yet, the Pontiff insisted that despair must not prevail. “We must not resign ourselves to the dominance of conflict and weapons,” he said, affirming that God’s mercy, through Mary’s intercession, surpasses human sin and violence. “With Mary, we know God continues to help us,” Pope Leo concluded, urging the faithful to seek the “path of peace” through divine grace.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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