Rome: The Vatican brought together priests religious and seminarians from Latin America on Friday for a special conference reflecting on the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe and its meaning for the Church today. The event was organized by the Pontifical Commission for Latin America and took place only hours before Pope Leo XIV was set to celebrate Mass in St Peters Basilica to honor the patroness of the Americas.
The gathering focused on how the message of Guadalupe continues to inspire faith hope and missionary commitment especially among Spanish speaking Catholics. Speakers also explained how the devotion fits within the Churchs recently published doctrinal note on the titles of Mary.
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith delivered the keynote address. He underlined that Marian devotion remains central to the life of many Catholics but must always point clearly to Jesus Christ as the only redeemer. The new Vatican document released in November encourages the faithful to honor Mary with traditional titles while avoiding expressions that may confuse her role with that of Christ.
Franciscan priest Stefano Cecchin president of the Pontifical International Marian Academy spoke about the deep cultural and spiritual ties between Latin American Catholics and Our Lady of Guadalupe. He said the Guadalupan image has helped generations of believers grow in trust and hope and continues to offer guidance for pastoral work today.
The conference also addressed reactions to the doctrinal note which has sparked discussions among theologians and devotional groups. Some have expressed concern about discouraging titles such as co redemptrix while Church leaders emphasize that the teaching aims to bring clarity and unity without diminishing Marys unique place in salvation history.
Participants said the event helped them better understand the document and how to communicate its message in their communities. The program concluded with preparations for the evening liturgy in St Peters where Pope Leo XIV was expected to lead the faithful in honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe on her feast day.