Angelus for the Assumption

At the conclusion of the Mass for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated in Liberty Square at Castel Gandolfo, the Pastor of the local parish church, Saint Thomas of Villanova, Father Pietro Diletti, SDB offered a word of greeting to the Holy Father in the name of all the parishioners of that parish who had gathered in the square for the celebration of the Mass.

Then the Holy Father led the recitation of the Angelus, with the faithful and with the pilgrims who were present.

Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis

Prior to the recitation of the Angelus

Dear brothers and sisters,

At the end of this celebration, we turn to the Virgin Mary with the prayer of the Angelus.  Mary’s path toward heaven began with her yes pronounced in Nazareth, in response to the heavenly messenger who announced to her the will of God for her.  It is always like that: every yes to God is a path toward heaven, toward eternal life, because that is what God wills: that all his sons should live life in abundance!  God wants all of us to be with him, in his house!

Unfortunately, there is painful news currently coming from Egypt.  I want to assure the families of the victims, the wounded and those who are suffering that I am praying for all of them.  Let us pray together for peace, for dialogue, for reconciliation in that dear land and in the whole world.  Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!  Let’s all say: Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!

I want to remember the 25^th Anniversary of the publication of Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem on the dignity of the vocation of women.  This document is full of ideas which deserve to be followed up on and developed; at the centre of it all is the image of Mary, in fact the Letter was published during the Marian Year.  Today, we make our own, the prayer which was written at the end of that Apostolic Letter (cf. n. 31): that, meditating on the biblical mystery of the woman, made visible in Mary, all women may discover themselves and their ‘supreme vocation, and that the whole Church may deepen and better appreciate the great and important role of women.

I thank all of you who are present, residents of Castel Gandolfo and pilgrims alike!  Thank you to all the residents of Castel Gandolfo, thank you very much! And thank you to all the pilgrims, especially those from Guinea, who are here with their bishop.

I affectionately greet the alumni from the Michael Ham Passionist College from Vicente López, Argentina, and the young people, members of the musical band from José de Jesús Rebolledo College in Coatepec, Mexico.

Now, let us all pray with Mary …. The angel of the Lord …

I wish you all a good feast day today, Mary’s day.  Have a good day, and enjoy your lunch!

After the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father had lunch at Castel Gandolfo.  Then, before returning to the Vatican, he made a private visit to the Pontifical parish of Saint Thomas of Villanova.