Speaking at the end of the general audience on Wednesday, May 3, according to custom, to the young, the sick, the elderly, and the newlyweds, Pope Francis encouraged “in this month of May, which has just begun, to renew devotion to the Mother of God,” Vatican News reported.
“I encourage you to get to know Mary more deeply, to create closeness with her in order to accept her as a spiritual mother and a model of fidelity to Christ,” he said, summing up: “To her, the Mother of consolation and the Queen of peace, I entrust the long-suffering Ukrainian people.”
The pontiff also mentioned Ukraine in his greeting to Polish pilgrims. On this day, Polish Catholics honor the Mother of God as the Queen of Poland. Recalling his recent Apostolic visit and meetings with Hungarians, the Pope noted the ties between Poles and Hungarians. “It is significant that both countries proclaimed Mary as their Queen. Ask for her intercession for your countries and for all of Europe, asking for perseverance in faith, unity and harmonious cooperation, but above all for peace, especially in neighboring Ukraine. I will bless you from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Speaking to Portuguese-speaking pilgrims, Pope Francis recalled the request of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the apparitions in Fatima: “Pray the rosary every day for peace in the world and for the end of war.” “I also ask you: pray the rosary for peace. May Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, help us build roads of encounter and paths of dialogue, and step on them without delay,” pontiff wished.
