Pope Leo XIV Prays to Our Lady of Guadalupe at Mass “As your child, I ask you: Mother, teach the nations that wish to be your children not to divide the world into irreconcilable factions, not to allow hatred to mark their history..."
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Pope Leo XIV celebrated Holy Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, this afternoon in St. Peter’s Basilica.
FREE Vatican PDF Booklet from the Mass with Music + Prayers: https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2025/20251212-libretto-madonna-guadalupe.pdf
The Pope offered a supplication to the Virgin, entrusting to her the nations, the rulers, the young, those who have drifted away from the Church, and families.
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF GUADALUPE
HOLY MASS FULL TEXT HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER LEO XIV
in St. Peter's Basilica, Friday, December 12, 2025
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Dear brothers and sisters:
In the reading from Sirach, we are presented with a poetic description of Wisdom, an image that finds its full identity in Christ, “the wisdom of God” ( 1 Cor 1:24), who, when the fullness of time had come, became flesh, born of a woman (cf. Gal 4:4). Christian tradition has also read this passage in a Marian light, for it brings to mind the woman prepared by God to receive Christ. Indeed, who but Mary can say, “In me is all the grace of the way and of the truth, all hope of life and of virtue” ( Sir 24:25)? For this reason, Christian tradition does not hesitate to recognize her as “the mother of love” ( ibid., v. 24).
In the Gospel, we hear how Mary experiences the dynamic of one who allows the Word of God to enter her life and transform it. Like a blazing fire that cannot be contained, the Word impels us to share the joy of the gift received (cf. Jer 20:9; Lk 24:32). Rejoicing at the angel's announcement, she understands that God's joy is fulfilled in charity, and so she hurries to Elizabeth's house.
Truly, the words of the Full of Grace are “sweeter than honey” ( Sirach 24:27). Her mere greeting is enough to make the child in Elizabeth’s womb leap for joy, and she, filled with the Holy Spirit, asks herself, “Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” ( Luke 1:43). This joy culminates in the Magnificat , where Mary acknowledges that her happiness comes from the faithful God, who has turned his gaze upon his people and blessed them (cf. Psalm 66:2) with an inheritance sweeter than honey in the honeycomb (cf. Sirach 24:20): the very presence of his Son.
Throughout her life, Mary brings this joy to places where human joy is insufficient, where the wine has run out (cf. Jn 2:3). This is what happens in Guadalupe. At Tepeyac, she awakens in the inhabitants of the Americas the joy of knowing themselves loved by God. In the apparitions of 1531, speaking to Saint Juan Diego in his native tongue, she declares that she “greatly desires” that a “sacred little house” be built there, from which she will extol God and make Him manifest (cf. Nican Mopohua , 26-27). In the midst of unending conflicts, injustices, and sufferings that seek relief, Our Lady of Guadalupe proclaims the core of her message: “Am I not here, I who am your mother?” ( ibid. , 119). She is the voice that makes the promise of divine faithfulness resound, the presence that sustains when life becomes unbearable.
The motherhood she proclaims makes us discover ourselves as children. Whoever hears “I am your mother” remembers that, from the cross, the “Here is your mother” corresponds to “Here is your son” (cf. Jn 19:26-27). And as children, we will turn to her to ask: “Mother, what must we do to be the children your heart desires?” She, faithful to her mission, will tenderly tell us: “Do whatever he tells you” ( Jn 2:5). Yes, Mother, we want to be your true children: tell us how to grow in faith when our strength wanes and shadows grow. Help us understand that with you, even winter becomes a time of roses.
And as your child, I ask you: Mother, teach the nations that wish to be your children not to divide the world into irreconcilable factions, not to allow hatred to mark their history, nor lies to write their memory. Show them that authority must be exercised as service, not as domination. Instruct their leaders in their duty to safeguard the dignity of every person in all phases of life. Make these nations, your children, places where every person can feel welcome.
Mother, accompany the young, so that they may receive from Christ the strength to choose good and the courage to remain steadfast in faith, even when the world tries to pull them in another direction. Show them that your Son walks beside them. Let nothing trouble their hearts so that they may embrace God's plans without fear. Keep them safe from the threats of crime, addiction, and the dangers of a meaningless life.
Seek out, Mother, those who have strayed from the holy Church: let your gaze reach them where ours cannot, tear down the walls that separate us, and bring them back home with the power of your love. Mother, I beg you to incline the hearts of those who sow discord toward your Son's desire that "all may be one" ( Jn 17:21) and restore them to the charity that makes communion possible, for within the Church, Mother, your children cannot be divided.
Strengthen families: may parents, following your example, raise their children with tenderness and firmness, so that every home may be a school of faith. Inspire, Mother, those who form minds and hearts so that they may transmit the truth with the gentleness, precision, and clarity that spring from the Gospel. Encourage those whom your Son has called to follow him more closely: sustain the clergy and the consecrated life in daily fidelity and renew their first love. Guard their inner lives in prayer, protect them in temptation, encourage them in weariness, and help the afflicted.
Holy Virgin, may we, like you, keep the Gospel in our hearts (cf. Lk 2:51). Help us to understand that, although we are its recipients, we do not own this message, but, like Saint Juan Diego, we are its simple servants. May we live convinced that wherever the Good News arrives, everything becomes beautiful, everything is restored, everything is renewed. “Those who follow you will not sin” (cf. Sir 24:22); assist us so that we do not tarnish with our sin and misery the holiness of the Church, which, like you, is a mother.
Mother “of the true God by whom we live,” come to the aid of the Successor of Peter, so that he may confirm all those entrusted to him on the one path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb. Remind this your son, “to whom Christ entrusted the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven for the good of all,” that these keys may serve “ to bind and loose and to redeem all human misery” ( St. John Paul II , Homily in Syracuse , November 6, 1994). And grant that, trusting in your protection, we may advance ever more closely united, with Jesus and with one another, toward the eternal dwelling He has prepared for us and where you await us. Amen.
Source: Translation from Spanish at Vatican.va Bulletin with Vatican Media Screenshot Image
Dear brothers and sisters:
In the reading from Sirach, we are presented with a poetic description of Wisdom, an image that finds its full identity in Christ, “the wisdom of God” ( 1 Cor 1:24), who, when the fullness of time had come, became flesh, born of a woman (cf. Gal 4:4). Christian tradition has also read this passage in a Marian light, for it brings to mind the woman prepared by God to receive Christ. Indeed, who but Mary can say, “In me is all the grace of the way and of the truth, all hope of life and of virtue” ( Sir 24:25)? For this reason, Christian tradition does not hesitate to recognize her as “the mother of love” ( ibid., v. 24).
In the Gospel, we hear how Mary experiences the dynamic of one who allows the Word of God to enter her life and transform it. Like a blazing fire that cannot be contained, the Word impels us to share the joy of the gift received (cf. Jer 20:9; Lk 24:32). Rejoicing at the angel's announcement, she understands that God's joy is fulfilled in charity, and so she hurries to Elizabeth's house.
Truly, the words of the Full of Grace are “sweeter than honey” ( Sirach 24:27). Her mere greeting is enough to make the child in Elizabeth’s womb leap for joy, and she, filled with the Holy Spirit, asks herself, “Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” ( Luke 1:43). This joy culminates in the Magnificat , where Mary acknowledges that her happiness comes from the faithful God, who has turned his gaze upon his people and blessed them (cf. Psalm 66:2) with an inheritance sweeter than honey in the honeycomb (cf. Sirach 24:20): the very presence of his Son.
Throughout her life, Mary brings this joy to places where human joy is insufficient, where the wine has run out (cf. Jn 2:3). This is what happens in Guadalupe. At Tepeyac, she awakens in the inhabitants of the Americas the joy of knowing themselves loved by God. In the apparitions of 1531, speaking to Saint Juan Diego in his native tongue, she declares that she “greatly desires” that a “sacred little house” be built there, from which she will extol God and make Him manifest (cf. Nican Mopohua , 26-27). In the midst of unending conflicts, injustices, and sufferings that seek relief, Our Lady of Guadalupe proclaims the core of her message: “Am I not here, I who am your mother?” ( ibid. , 119). She is the voice that makes the promise of divine faithfulness resound, the presence that sustains when life becomes unbearable.
The motherhood she proclaims makes us discover ourselves as children. Whoever hears “I am your mother” remembers that, from the cross, the “Here is your mother” corresponds to “Here is your son” (cf. Jn 19:26-27). And as children, we will turn to her to ask: “Mother, what must we do to be the children your heart desires?” She, faithful to her mission, will tenderly tell us: “Do whatever he tells you” ( Jn 2:5). Yes, Mother, we want to be your true children: tell us how to grow in faith when our strength wanes and shadows grow. Help us understand that with you, even winter becomes a time of roses.
And as your child, I ask you: Mother, teach the nations that wish to be your children not to divide the world into irreconcilable factions, not to allow hatred to mark their history, nor lies to write their memory. Show them that authority must be exercised as service, not as domination. Instruct their leaders in their duty to safeguard the dignity of every person in all phases of life. Make these nations, your children, places where every person can feel welcome.
Mother, accompany the young, so that they may receive from Christ the strength to choose good and the courage to remain steadfast in faith, even when the world tries to pull them in another direction. Show them that your Son walks beside them. Let nothing trouble their hearts so that they may embrace God's plans without fear. Keep them safe from the threats of crime, addiction, and the dangers of a meaningless life.
Seek out, Mother, those who have strayed from the holy Church: let your gaze reach them where ours cannot, tear down the walls that separate us, and bring them back home with the power of your love. Mother, I beg you to incline the hearts of those who sow discord toward your Son's desire that "all may be one" ( Jn 17:21) and restore them to the charity that makes communion possible, for within the Church, Mother, your children cannot be divided.
Strengthen families: may parents, following your example, raise their children with tenderness and firmness, so that every home may be a school of faith. Inspire, Mother, those who form minds and hearts so that they may transmit the truth with the gentleness, precision, and clarity that spring from the Gospel. Encourage those whom your Son has called to follow him more closely: sustain the clergy and the consecrated life in daily fidelity and renew their first love. Guard their inner lives in prayer, protect them in temptation, encourage them in weariness, and help the afflicted.
Holy Virgin, may we, like you, keep the Gospel in our hearts (cf. Lk 2:51). Help us to understand that, although we are its recipients, we do not own this message, but, like Saint Juan Diego, we are its simple servants. May we live convinced that wherever the Good News arrives, everything becomes beautiful, everything is restored, everything is renewed. “Those who follow you will not sin” (cf. Sir 24:22); assist us so that we do not tarnish with our sin and misery the holiness of the Church, which, like you, is a mother.
Mother “of the true God by whom we live,” come to the aid of the Successor of Peter, so that he may confirm all those entrusted to him on the one path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb. Remind this your son, “to whom Christ entrusted the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven for the good of all,” that these keys may serve “ to bind and loose and to redeem all human misery” ( St. John Paul II , Homily in Syracuse , November 6, 1994). And grant that, trusting in your protection, we may advance ever more closely united, with Jesus and with one another, toward the eternal dwelling He has prepared for us and where you await us. Amen.
Source: Translation from Spanish at Vatican.va Bulletin with Vatican Media Screenshot Image
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