Pope Leo XIV says "Let us be challenged by Mary’s example of humility, active faith and obedience. Let us generously respond in love, magnifying God..." FULL TEXT

Pope LEO XIV at the GENERAL AUDIENCE
in Saint Peter's Square on Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome!

The Second Vatican Council chose to dedicate the last chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church to the Virgin Mary (cf. Lumen gentium, 52-69). She “is hailed as a pre-eminent and singular member of the Church, and as its type and excellent example in faith and charity” (LG, 53). These words invite us to understand how in Mary, who under the action of the Holy Spirit welcomed and brought forth the Son of God made flesh, we can recognize both the model and the pre-eminent member and mother of the entire ecclesial community.


By allowing Herself to be shaped by the work of Grace, which came to fulfilment in Her, and by welcoming the gift of the Most High with Her faith and Her virginal love, Mary is the perfect model of what the whole Church is called to be: a creature of the Word of the Lord and mother of the children of God, begotten in docility to the action of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, as She is the believer par excellence, in whom we are offered the perfect form of unconditional openness to the divine mystery within the communion of God’s holy people, Mary is an excellent member of the ecclesial community. Finally, inasmuch as She brings forth children in the Son, loved in the eternal Beloved who came among us, Mary is the mother of the whole Church, which can turn to her with filial confidence, in the certainty of being heard, protected and loved.

On might express the sum of these characteristics of the Virgin Mary by referring to Her as a woman who is the icon of the Mystery. The word woman highlights the historical reality of this young daughter of Israel, to whom it was granted to live the extraordinary experience of becoming the mother of the Messiah. The expression icon emphasizes that, in Her, the twofold movement of descent and ascent is fulfilled: in Her, both God’s gratuitous election and Her free consent of faith in Him shine forth. Mary is therefore the woman who is the icon of the Mystery, that is, of the divine plan of salvation, once hidden and now revealed in its fullness in Jesus Christ.

The Council has left us clear teaching on the unique place reserved to the Virgin Mary in the work of Redemption (cf. Lumen gentium, 60-62). It recalls that the sole Mediator of salvation is Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Tm 2:5-6), and that his Mother Most Holy “in no way impedes, but rather fosters the immediate union of the faithful with Christ (cf. LG, 60). At the same time, “predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin … in this singular way … cooperated by Her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Saviour in giving back supernatural life to souls. Wherefore She is our mother in the order of grace” (ibid., 61).

The mystery of the Church is also reflected in the Virgin Mary: in Her, the people of God find the representation of their origin, their model and their homeland. In the Mother of the Lord, the Church contemplates her own mystery, not only because she finds in Her the model of virginal faith, maternal charity and the spousal covenant to which she is called, but also and above all because in Her she recognizes her own archetype, the ideal figure of what she is called to be.

As we can see, the reflections on the Virgin Mother collected in Lumen gentium teach us to love the Church and to serve within her the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God, which is coming and which will be fully realized in glory.

Let us then allow ourselves to be questioned by the sublime model given to us by Mary, Virgin and Mother, and let us ask Her to help us, through Her intercession, to respond to what is asked of us through Her example: do I live my participation of the Church with humble and active faith? Do I recognize in her the community of the covenant that God has given me to respond to His infinite love? Do I feel that I am a living part of the Church, in obedience to the pastors given by God? Do I look to Mary as a model, an outstanding member and Mother of the Church, and ask Her to help me be a faithful disciple of her Son?

Sisters and brothers, may the Holy Spirit, who descended upon Mary and is invoked by us humbly and trustfully, grant us the grace to live these wonderful realities to the full. And, having reflected deeply on the Constitution Lumen gentium, let us ask the Virgin to obtain this gift for us: that love for the Holy Mother Church may grow in all of us. So be it!

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Special greetings:

I greet the English speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s audience, in particular the groups from England, Ireland, Tanzania, India, Indonesia, Canada and the United States of America. Today we remember the memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. On this day, forty-five years ago, an attempt was made on the life of Pope John Paul II, and for these reasons, I dedicated my catechesis today to the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the same time, we will soon celebrate the Lord’s Ascension, which marks the entrance of his humanity into heaven. As we await Jesus’ second coming in glory, may we, like the Apostles, entrust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin. Upon you and your families, I willingly invoke the joy and peace of Christ the Lord. God bless you!

I cordially greet the French-speaking faithful, especially the young people and pilgrims from Belgium and France. Let us ask the Lord to send his Holy Spirit upon each of us, so that he may enliven us ever more and make us aware of being members of the Church, responsible for her mission. Let us ask him for the grace to place all our talents at the service of our brothers, who await the image of Jesus Christ in us. God bless you !

 Dear German-speaking brothers and sisters, may Mary, "the image and beginning of the Church which is to be fulfilled in the age to come" (LG 68), help us to love Christ and the Holy Church ever more and to serve in her the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God which is to come. Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us .]

I cordially greet the pilgrims of the Spanish language. Let us ask our Holy Mother to intercede for us so that, like her, we may live with humility, obedience and active faith in our belonging to the Church. May God bless them. Much thanks.

I extend my cordial greeting to the Chinese-speaking people. Dear brothers and sisters, I assure you of my prayers that your Christian witness, sustained by God's grace, may be ever more fruitful. I bless you wholeheartedly .


I greet the Portuguese-speaking faithful. Today, the liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima, we turn our gaze to the Shrine, where Our Lady gave the three little shepherds a message of peace. In that place, so dear to Christianity, numerous pilgrims from the five continents gather today: their presence is a sign of the need for consolation, unity, and hope of the people of our time. Let us entrust to the Immaculate Heart of Mary the cry for peace and harmony that rises from every part of the world, especially from peoples afflicted by war. My blessing to all !


I greet the Arabic-speaking faithful. Let us renew together our 'yes' to the Lord and his will, trusting in him, like Mary, who will give us new life. May the Lord bless you all and always protect you from all evil !


I cordially greet the Polish people. In these days, in Poland, children are approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion for the first time. May parents, catechists, and educators be an example to them in frequently resorting to the grace of the Sacraments. Let us accompany them with prayer, invoking the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, whom you venerate with the singing of the Litany of Loreto. My blessing to all !

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I extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. In particular, I greet the members of the Coordinating Committee of the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches, present in Rome for their study and planning meeting, and I express my hope that we can continue the journey begun more than twenty years ago. I also greet the faithful of the Archdiocese of Otranto, with Archbishop Francesco Neri; the parishes of San Giuseppe Moscati in Triggiano and Santa Maria Assunta in Sarconi; the soldiers of the 232nd Transmission Regiment of the Italian Army; and the Port Authority of San Benedetto del Tronto, with Archbishop Gianpiero Palmieri.

Finally, my thoughts turn to the young people, the sick, and the newlyweds. I thank you for your presence and invoke upon you and your families the gifts of the Holy Spirit for a Christian commitment that is always consistent in the diverse callings and situations that Providence reserves for each of us. My blessing to all!
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Summary of the Holy Father's words:

Dear brothers and sisters, in our catechesis today we contemplate Mary, whom the final chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium recognizes as model, perfect member, and as mother. Docile to the Father’s will, her son’s work of redemption and the promptings of the Holy Spirit, Mary is the model of what the Church is meant to be. Her unconditional “yes” shows us how to be members of the Church. As our mother by grace, she is the one to whom we can turn with filial trust, in the certainty of being heard, protected, and loved. In a special way, Mary cooperated in the work of salvation, through obedience, faith, hope, and ardent charity, to restore through her Son, the supernatural life of souls. Let us be challenged by Mary’s example of humility, active faith and obedience. Let us generously respond in love, magnifying God in our hearts, and receiving strength from the sacraments. Let ask Mary to help us be faithful disciples of her Son.