The promise that Pope Francis made to the Virgin of Carmen on a day like today

In 1990, when he served as superior of the Jesuits in Argentina, Pope Francis made a curious promise to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which remains valid today.

During his pontificate, Pope Francis has shown special devotion to some saints and Marian devotions.

An example of this is the choice of his name in honor of the Saint of Assisi, or his devotion to the Virgin Untied, whose image is present on his desk, and to whom in 2021 he begged for the end of the pandemic.

His closeness to Our Lady of Fátima is also highlighted, to whose sanctuary he made a pilgrimage in 2017 and in 2023, within the framework of World Youth Day in Lisbon. To his protection, the Holy Father consecrated the entire world

However, there is a Marian devotion to which Pope Francis made a curious promise in 1990, on the eve of her solemnity.

This is Our Lady of Carmen, whose devotion extends to Europe and America, and in many countries she is the patron saint of the sea, sailors, the Armed Forces, the Police and the Army.

In Argentina, she was named by General San Martín as Patroness and General of the Army of the Andes, which liberated Argentina, Chile and Peru.

In an interview given in 2015 to the Argentine newspaper La Voz del Pueblo, Pope Francis assured that he still keeps alive the promise made to the Virgin of Carmen on the night of July 15, 1990, for which he does not watch television.

“I haven’t watched television since 1990. It’s a promise I made to the Virgin of Carmen on the night of July 15, 1990,” he recalled.

Asked about the reasons, he clarified that there is no particular reason: “I told myself ‘this is not for me,’” he acknowledged, and clarified that he does not even watch San Lorenzo matches, the soccer club of which he is a supporter.

The Pontiff assured that he is aware of the current situation of his team because “there is a Swiss guard who every week leaves me the results and how it is in the table” (of positions).

He also mentioned his promise in dialogue with the newspaper El País, from Spain. “I don’t watch television simply because at one point I felt that God asked me that; On July 16, ’90 I made that promise, and I never fail.”

However, he clarified: “Not watching television did not stop me from communicating. Not watching television was a personal choice, nothing more. But communication is divine. “God communicates.”

“God communicated with us throughout history. God was not isolated. He is a God who communicates, and he spoke to us, and accompanied us, and challenged us (reprimanded us), and made us change our route, and he continues to accompany us,” he highlighted.

“I’m a little afraid when the media cannot express themselves with their own ethics. For example, there are ways of communicating that are not helpful, that they help to unity,” he reflected.

“I give a simple example. A family that is having dinner and they are not talking, or they are watching television or the kids are on their phones sending messages to others who are outside. When communication loses the carnal, the human, and becomes liquid, it is dangerous,” she warned.

In 2020, within the framework of the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Holy Father encouraged the faithful to pray to this devotion to help us not lie or criticize.

Through his Twitter account, invited us to pray: “Our Mother, help us to have innocent hands and a pure heart, not to lie or speak to the detriment of our neighbor. Thus we will be able to climb the mountain of the Lord and obtain his blessing, his righteousness, his salvation.”

This story was originally published on July 16, 2023. It has been updated for republication.