Pope Francis says Listen to the Voice of Mary in All Moments "Do not be afraid, am I not here, I who am your Mother?" on Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day Mass

On the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, about 4,000 people from around the world joined Pope Francis in Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica.
“Do not be afraid. Am I not here, I, who am your Mother?” The Pope explained that Mary said these words to St. Juan  Diego when she appeared to him in 1531 in Mexico. These words, he explained, show “the motherhood of Mary.”

BLESSED VIRGIN MARY OF GUADALUPE

HOLY MASS - FULL TEXT HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS

St. Peter's Basilica - Thursday, 12 December 2024

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Looking at the image of Mary, Mary of Guadalupe pregnant, announcing the birth of the Savior, as a mother.

With what tenderness she says to the Indian: "Do not be afraid, am I not here, I who am your Mother?" (Nican Mopohua, 118-119). Here the motherhood of Mary is revealed. And about this mystery of Guadalupe, which unfortunately so many ideologies have wanted to derive ideological advantage, three simple things come to mind, but which make the message: the tilma, the Mother and the rose. Very simple things.

The motherhood of Mary is engraved on that simple tilma. Mary's motherhood is shown by the beauty of the roses that the Indian finds and brings; and Mary's motherhood works the miracle of bringing faith to the somewhat incredulous hearts of the prelates.

The cloak, the rose, the Indian. Everything that is said about the mystery of Guadalupe, beyond this, is a lie, it is an attempt to use it for ideologies. The mystery of Guadalupe is to venerate her, and to hear in our ears: "Am I not here, I who am your Mother?" And this must be heard in all moments of life: the various difficult moments of life, the happy moments of life, the daily moments of life. "Do not be afraid, am I not here, I who am your Mother?" And this is the message of Guadalupe. The rest is ideologies.

We leave with the image of the Lady on the cloak of the Indian; and listening, as in a repetitive refrain, to the voice that tells us: "Do not be afraid, am I not here, I who am your Mother?" So be it.