Pope Leo XIV entrusts pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe On Dec. 12, Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Mass on the solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom he asked to come to his aid \u201cso that she may confirm in the one true path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb all those who have been entrusted to me.\u201d A large number of the faithful, mostly from the Mexican community residing in Rome as well as clergy and members of the Roman Curia, attended the ceremony held in St. Peter\u2019s Basilica at 4 p.m. local time. The Holy Father delivered a homily in Spanish in the form of a prayer addressed to the patroness of Mexico and empress of the Americas. The pontiff recalled that Mary allows the Word of God \u201cto enter her life and transform it,\u201d bringing \u201cthat joy wherever human joy is insufficient, wherever the wine has run out.\u201d For the Holy Father, at Tepeyac, the Virgin Mary \u201cawakens in the inhabitants of America the joy of knowing they are loved by God.\u201d Thus, \u201camidst ceaseless conflicts, injustices, and sorrows that seek relief,\u201d Mary of Guadalupe proclaims the core of her message: \u201cAm I not here, I who am your mother?\u201d \u201cIt is the voice,\u201d the pope continued, \u201cthat echoes the promise of divine fidelity, the presence that sustains us when life becomes unbearable.\u201d The pope then focused his message on the motherhood of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before her image, he expressed his desire that the faithful might feel like \u201ctrue children of yours,\u201d and he asked for her guidance to maintain their faith \u201cwhen strength fails and shadows grow.\u201d \u201cMother, 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 and not as domination. Instruct their leaders in their duty to safeguard the dignity of every person at every stage of life. Make these peoples, your children, places where every person can feel welcome,\u201d he continued. He also prayed to the Virgin for young people, \u201cthat they may obtain from Christ the strength to choose what is good and the courage to remain steadfast in the faith, even when the world pushes them in another direction.\u201d He also prayed that nothing would trouble their hearts and that \u201cthey may embrace God\u2019s plans without fear.\u201d \u201cProtect them from the threats of crime, addiction, and the danger of a meaningless life,\u201d he added. The Holy Father turned to those who have distanced themselves from the Church and asked the Virgin Mary to bring them \u201cback home\u201d with the power of her love. He also prayed for those who sow discord, asking Mary to restore them to charity. He also implored Our Lady of Guadalupe to strengthen families and, following her example, to help \u201cparents educate with tenderness and firmness, so that every home may be a school of faith.\u201d He also asked her to sustain the clergy and consecrated life \u201cin daily fidelity\u201d and to renew their first love. \u201cGuard their inner lives in prayer, protect them from temptation, encourage them in their weariness, and comfort those who are discouraged,\u201d he added. \u201cAssist us so that we may not tarnish with our sin and misery the holiness of the Church, which, like you, is a mother,\u201d he said. In his conclusion, the Holy Father asked that the mother \u201cof the true God for whom we live come to the aid of the successor of Peter, so that he may confirm in the one path that leads to the blessed Fruit of your womb all those entrusted to me.\u201d \u201cRemember this son of yours, \u2018to whom Christ entrusted the keys of the kingdom of heaven for the good of all,\u2019 that these keys may serve \u2018to bind and loose and to redeem all human misery,\u2019\u201d he said, quoting a 1994 homily by St. John Paul II. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA\u2019s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA. Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today EWTN Vatican on WhatsApp Almudena Mart\u00ednez-Bordi\u00fa Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter. More news related to this article Dicastery for Consecrated Life, Archbishop Carballo Returns to Spain Vatican News: New lighting system to illuminate Saint Peter\u2019s Square for Jubilee Analysis: Milei, Pope Francis embody contrasting economic viewpoints Vatican News: Catholics can’t be Freemasons & Pope urges priests not to leave the Lord alone Pope Francis to clergy abuse commission: \u2018Our commitment must not wane\u2019 Pope Francis: \u2018Trust frees, fear paralyzes\u2019<\/p>\n