“Today it would be a beautiful gesture to visit a Shrine to venerate the Madonna…”
Pope Francis gave this invitation on Saturday, August 15th, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, from his window to socially distant faithful in St. Peter’s Square, after praying the midday Angelus.
“Those who live in Rome and those who are in Rome,” he suggested, “could go to Saint Mary Major to pray before the image of the Salus Populi Romani.”
“Happy Feast to all of you!” he said, noting he wished a special feast to those who are on vacation, and “those who do not have this possibility, especially the sick, those who are alone and those who ensure indispensable services to us all.”
Noting that the Virgin Mary who we contemplate in heavenly glory is the “Mother of hope,” Francis noted that this title of hers has been recently included in the Litany of Loreto.
“Let us invoke her intercession,” he prayed, “for all the situations in the world that are most in need of hope: hope for peace, for justice, hope for a dignified life.”
Here is an unofficial Vatican-provided working translation of the Pope’s greetings:
* * *
After the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters,
The Virgin Mary, whom we contemplate today in heavenly glory, is the “Mother of hope”. This title of hers has been recently included in the Litany of Loreto. Let us invoke her intercession for all the
situations in the world that are most in need of hope: hope for peace, for justice, hope for a dignified life.
Today I would like to pray in particular for the population of the northern region of Nigeria, victim of violence and terrorist attacks.
I am following with particular attention the situation of the difficult negotiations regarding the
Nile between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. I invite all parties to continue on the path of dialogue so that the Eternal River might continue to be a source of life that unites, not divides, that always nourishes friendship, prosperity, fraternity, and never enmity, misunderstanding or conflict. Let dialogue, dear brothers and sisters of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, let dialogue be your only choice, for the good of your dear populations and of the entire world.
I greet you all, people from Rome and pilgrims from various countries: families, parish groups, associations. In particular, I greet the young people of Catholic Action of San Gerolamo in Trieste.
I wish all of you here present a happy Feast of the Assumption, to those who are on vacation, and those who do not have this possibility, especially the sick, those who are alone and those who ensure indispensable services to us all.
Today it would be a beautiful gesture to visit a Shrine to venerate the Madonna. Those who live in Rome and those who are in Rome could go to Saint Mary Major to pray before the image of the Salus Populi Romani. Happy Feast to all of you!
And please, do not forget to pray for me. Have a good lunch, and see you soon.
[Original text: Italian] [Working Translation by Vatican]
