Before the final blessing at yesterday’s Mass in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis entrusted the youth who received the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Virgin Mary. The Holy Father ended the Mass reciting the Regina Caeli, which is recited every Sunday during the Easter season.
“The Virgin Mary teaches us what it means to live in the Holy Spirit and what it means to welcome the newness of God in our life,” the Pope said. “She conceived Jesus by the work of the Spirit, and every Christian, each one of us, is called to welcome the Word of God, to welcome Jesus in ourselves and then bring him to everyone.”
The Pope went on to say that the Blessed Mother is present in every instance that “we come together in prayer” in order to receive the gift of the Spirit and the courage to announce the risen Christ.
“I say this in a special way to you who have received Confirmation today: may Mary help you to be attentive to that which the Lord asks of you, and always to live and to walk according to the Holy Spirit!,” the Holy Father exclaimed.
The Holy Father concluded by offering prayers for the victims of the recent collapse of a garment factory in Bangladesh. Roughly 400 people have died from the tragedy while countless others are still buried under the rubble.
“I express my solidarity and profound closeness to the families who weep for their loved ones and from the depths of my heart I sincerely call for the protection of the dignity and security of the worker,” Pope Francis said.
