During this month of May dedicated to Mary, Pope Francis has invited the faithful to pick up their rosaries and call upon her in a special way.
The Pope told those gathered at the end of his General Audience this morning that tomorrow, Thursday, the Church will recite the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii, the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Rosary. Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will be present.
The Pontiff, who frequently closes his discourses calling upon the Blessed Mother, therefore urged the faithful to invoke Mary’s intercession, “so that the Lord may grant mercy and peace to the Church and to all the world,” and encouraged them to take special care to pray the rosary during this month of May.
He made this request after the pilgrims’ greetings in different languages today.
Assuring them that “the Holy Spirit will drive out all fear,” the Pope addressed in German the relatives and friends of the new Swiss Guards who yesterday swore their allegiance to him.
He continued speaking about the World Youth Day to be celebrated in Poland in 2016. “Let us begin our path towards the meeting in Poland … Let us walk together, united in love and prayer, following St. John Paul II’s invitation to be always young in the Holy Spirit.”
In Italian, he greeted the Red Cross volunteers who are celebrating 150 years since the foundation of this organization, and the families of the young people of the San Patrignano House, to whom he confirmed his support “against any type of drug abuse.” He also greeted the Italian Confcommercio Ascom Group from Padua, to whom he gave encouragement in this moment of economic difficulty.
Inviting pilgrims to visit the tombs of the apostles, the Pontiff noted the visit could help “increase the Paschal joy of the Resurrection, which is also made manifest in certain charitable works.” (D.C.L.)
