It is Mother's Day today in both Peru and the United States (and several other countries), and Pope Leo encouraged prayer for mothers in "love and gratitude."
"And today, a special thought goes out to all mothers!" Pope Leo said, concluding his reflections after the midday Regina Caeli, as both Peru and the United States celebrate Mother's Day today.
"Through the intercession of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our own Mother, let us pray with love and gratitude for every mother, especially those living in the most difficult circumstances. Thank you! May God bless you!"
Pope Leo has had an especially Marian few days, having spent his first anniversary on Friday with Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii.
He said in his homily there:
Exactly one year ago, when I was entrusted with the ministry of the Successor of Peter, it was precisely the day of the Supplication to the Virgin, this beautiful day of the Supplication to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii! So, I had to come here, to place my service under the protection of the Holy Virgin. My choice of the name Leo places me in the footsteps of Leo XIII, who, among his other merits, also developed an extensive Magisterium on the Holy Rosary.
His whole homily was a reflection on the Rosary, and particularly the Hail Mary prayer. You can read it here.
Leo has shared that his devotion to the Rosary is rooted in his childhood, as his parents would always pray the Rosary together each evening.
Read more about that below:
