Following the Angelus prayer in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo marked the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary by entrusting his prayer for peace to her intercession. He pointed out that Mary “suffers for the evils that afflict her children, especially the little ones and the weak.” Throughout the centuries, the Pope explained, she has revealed her closeness to those in need through messages and apparitions.

Fresh off the tragedy of the bloodiest war the world had ever seen—World War II—Pope Pius XII proclaimed the dogma of the Assumption in 1950.

He wrote: “There is reason to hope that all who reflect on Mary’s glorious example will be ever more convinced of the value of human life.” Pope Pius continued by expressing his hope that the world would never again see the “butchery of human life through war”.

Pope Leo stressed how the words of his predecessor remain relevant today. “We sadly feel powerless in the face of the growing spread of violence in the world – a violence increasingly deaf and unfeeling toward any impulse of humanity.”

But, the Pope emphasized, we must not lose hope. He reiterated that God is greater than human sin and any violence we face. “We must not resign ourselves to the dominance of conflict and weapons” because with Mary, we know God continues to help us. Pope Leo argued that it is only through God’s mercy that “we can rediscover the path of peace.”

Pope at Angelus: Mary is an icon of hope

After presiding over Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV began his Angelus reflection by citing a document from the Second Vatican Council, which speaks about the Assumption of Mary. He highlighted that Mary “shines as an icon of hope for her pilgrim children throughout history.”

The Pope turned to Dante’s famous poem Paradiso and the prayer recited in the last canto. It praises the Virgin as “the living fountain-head of hope”. Pope Leo described Mary as a symbol of hope which ties into the theme of this Jubilee Year—Pilgrims of hope.

He stressed that pilgrims need a goal to guide their journey, “a beautiful and attractive goal that guides their steps and revives them when they are tired, that always rekindles in their heart a desire and hope.”

The goal of this journey of life, the Pope reminded, is God and the human heart is drawn to the beauty of God.

Just as it is a mystery that Jesus became man, died, and rose again, the Pope reflected on the mystery of Mary as the mother of the Son of God. “It concerns a unique mystery of love, and thus of freedom.” Both Jesus and Mary, he recalled, said yes to their call in life. Mary’s entire life was a pilgrimage of hope with her son from birth to the heavenly homeland.

It is for this reason, Pope Leo said, when we face difficult times “as individuals, families and communities…let us lift our gaze, let us look at her, our Mother, and we will rediscover the hope that does not disappoint.”