In a Latin-language letter marking the 350th anniversary of the shrine of the Black Madonna in Cologne, Germany, Pope Leo XIV wrote that the Blessed Virgin Mary “embraces all the members of the mystical Body of Christ and has long been called the Mediatrix of graces by the Church.”
Newsroom (09/09/2025, Gaudium Press ) In a poignant letter released today, the Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., Archbishop Emeritus of Vienna, as his Special Envoy to the 350th anniversary celebration of the dedication of the Chapel of the Black Madonna of Saint Mary on Kupfergasse in Cologne, Germany. The Eucharistic celebration, set for Sunday, September 14, 2025, commemorates the chapel’s consecration on September 8, 1675, and underscores the Blessed Virgin Mary’s enduring role as Mediatrix of graces, a central theme of the pontifical message.
The letter, addressed to Cardinal Schönborn, celebrates the profound devotion of the faithful to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly at the Cologne shrine, a revered Marian sanctuary often called the spiritual heart of the city and Archdiocese. The Holy Father highlights the chapel, a sacred reflection of the House of Loreto, as a place where the Black Madonna’s image has drawn countless pilgrims for centuries. The pontiff emphasizes Mary’s unique role as Mediatrix of graces, through whom divine favors flow to the Mystical Body of Christ, uniting all the faithful in her maternal care.
Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Metropolitan Archbishop of Cologne, had requested a papal representative for this milestone event, a plea initially made to the late Pope Francis. Fulfilling his predecessor’s intent, the Holy Father chose Cardinal Schönborn, noting his deep Marian devotion and cardinalatial dignity. Schönborn is entrusted with conveying the Pope’s heartfelt love and prayers, particularly emphasizing Mary’s intercessory role as Mediatrix, guiding the faithful to her Son, Jesus Christ.
The pontifical letter calls on the Black Madonna, as Mediatrix of graces, to intercede for a “sincere, strong, and unshakable faith” in this Holy Year. Citing St. Augustine and the Apostle John, the Pope reflects on Christ’s light revealed at His birth and veiled at His death, urging the faithful to seek the grace of steadfast faith through Mary’s intercession, which “overcomes the world” (1 John 5:4).
Concluding, the Holy Father entrusts Cardinal Schönborn’s mission to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of graces, and St. Joseph, imparting his Apostolic Blessing to the envoy, the faithful, clergy, and civil authorities attending the celebration. The event is expected to draw a significant gathering to Cologne, affirming the chapel’s role as a beacon of Marian devotion and divine grace.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from vatican.va
Related Images:
