Pope Francis at the Assumption: Virgin Mary is not a motionless statue but a sister who shows the way to God

On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary that the Catholic Church celebrates this August 15, Pope Francis affirmed that the Virgin Mary is not an “immobile statue of wax” but a sister who shows with her life the path to God.

In his reflection before thousands of faithful present in St. Peter’s Square and under the strong Roman August sun, the Pope highlighted that today’s Gospel recounts the angel Gabriel’s announcement that Mary will be the Mother of God, after what who sets off to see his cousin Isabel.

The Holy Father explained that with this action “Mary does not consider the news received from the Angel a privilege, but, on the contrary, she leaves her house and sets out on her way, with the haste of someone who wishes to announce that joy to others and with the desire to put himself at the service of his cousin.”

In that sense, Pope Francis continued, this journey “is a metaphor for her entire life, because from that moment on, Mary will always be on the road: she will always be on the road following Jesus, as a disciple of the Kingdom.”

“And, in the end, her earthly pilgrimage ends with her Assumption into Heaven, where, together with her Son, she enjoys forever the joy of eternal life.”

“Brothers and sisters, we must not imagine Mary “as a motionless wax statue,” but rather we can see in her a “sister… with worn-out sandals… and so tired,” from having walked after the Lord. Lord and to meet his brothers and sisters, concluding his journey in the glory of Heaven,” the Pope exhorted.

“In this way, the Blessed Virgin is the One who precedes us on the path – she precedes us, She – precedes us on the path, reminding us all that our life is also a journey, a continuous journey towards the horizon of the definitive encounter” with God. .

Pope Francis calls for an end to wars and makes an appeal for Gaza

After praying the Angelus, Pope Francis entrusted the peoples at war to Mary Queen of Peace: “I think in particular of the tormented Ukraine, in the Middle East, in Palestine, in Israel, in Sudan and in Myanmar. May the heavenly Mother obtain consolation for all and a future of serenity and harmony.”

Pope Francis also indicated that he follows “with concern the very serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and I ask once again for a ceasefire on all fronts, the release of the hostages and help to the exhausted population,” and encouraged “the “ways of negotiation so that this tragedy ends soon.”

The Holy Father also raised his prayers for Greece, more precisely for the thousands of people affected by a fire occurring northwest of Athens. “I pray for the victims and the injured, I assure my closeness to all those who are tested by this serious event, trusting that they can be supported by common solidarity,” he concluded.

Full text of the Angelus of Pope Francis on August 15, 2024 on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and, in the Gospel of the Liturgy, we contemplate the young maiden of Nazareth who, upon receiving the Angel’s announcement, sets out to visit her cousin.

This expression from the Gospel is beautiful: “he set out on his way” (Lk 1:39). It means that Mary does not consider the news received from the Angel a privilege, but, on the contrary, she leaves her house and sets out, with the haste of someone who wishes to announce that joy to others and with the desire to put herself at the service of his cousin. This first trip, in reality, is a metaphor for her entire life, because from that moment on, Mary will always be on the road: she will always be on the road following Jesus, as a disciple of the Kingdom. And, in the end, her earthly pilgrimage ends with her Assumption into Heaven, where she, together with her Son, enjoys forever the joy of eternal life.

Brothers and sisters, we must not imagine Mary “as a motionless wax statue”, but rather we can see in her a “sister… with worn-out sandals… and with so much fatigue” (C. CARRETTO, Blessed are you who believedRome 1983, p. 13), for having walked after the Lord and to meet his brothers and sisters, concluding his journey in the glory of Heaven.

In this way, the Blessed Virgin is the One who precedes us on the path – she precedes us, She – precedes us on the path, reminding us all that our life is also a journey, a continuous journey towards the horizon of the definitive encounter. Let us ask the Virgin to help us on this path towards meeting the Lord.

Words after the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters

To Mary Queen of Peace, whom we contemplate today in the glory of Paradise, I would like to entrust once again the anguish and pain of the people who in so many parts of the world suffer social tensions and wars. I am thinking in particular of the tormented Ukraine, of the Middle East, of Palestine, of Israel, of Sudan and of Myanmar. May the Heavenly Mother obtain consolation for all and a future of serenity and harmony.

I follow with concern the very serious humanitarian situation in Gaza and call once again for a ceasefire on all fronts, the release of the hostages and help for the exhausted population. I encourage everyone to do everything possible so that the conflict does not worsen and to follow the path of negotiation so that this tragedy ends soon. Let us not forget: war is defeat.

My thoughts now turn to Greece, which in recent days has been fighting a very serious fire, declared in the northeast of Athens. Tens of thousands of people have already been evacuated, many families have been left homeless, thousands of people are facing terrible hardships and, in addition to the immense material damage, an environmental catastrophe is being created. I pray for the victims and the injured, I assure my closeness to all those who are tested by this serious event, trusting that they can be sustained by common solidarity.

And I greet all of you, Romans and pilgrims from various countries, in particular, the AGESCI Scouts of Cornedo Vicentino, and the young people of the Immaculate Conception. I thank you for your presence; I wish you a good feast of Our Lady of the Assumption and, please, brothers and sisters, do not forget to pray for me. Bon appetit and see you later!