Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV on Saturday described St. Rose of Lima as a radiant model of Christian holiness, urging the faithful to rediscover their shared calling to sanctity during a ceremony in the Vatican Gardens that blended faith, art, and cultural friendship.
The occasion marked the unveiling and blessing of two new sacred artworks installed amid the natural splendour of the Vatican Gardens: a mosaic portraying the Blessed Virgin Mary and a statue honouring St. Rose of Lima, the first saint born in the Americas. The Pope presided over the ceremony in the presence of Peru’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Jorge Ponce San Román, and the President of the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Carlos Enrique García Camader of Lurín.
Addressing those gathered, Pope Leo said the initiative renewed the deep spiritual and historical ties linking Peru with the Holy See. Calling Peru “a country so dear to me,” he noted that the new installations stand as a sign of enduring friendship rooted in shared faith. He also reflected on the setting itself, describing the Vatican Gardens as a place where the beauty of creation continually points humanity toward the Creator.
The Pope expressed gratitude to the artists responsible for the works, which were commissioned by the Peruvian Bishops’ Conference and crafted by the “Don Bosco Family of Artisans,” a collective of young artists from the Peruvian Andes. He praised their contribution, noting that the artworks would now have a lasting presence within Vatican City.
Turning to the spiritual meaning of the images, Pope Leo said that both figures the Virgin Mary and St. Rose of Lima naturally direct hearts and minds to the theme of holiness. He recalled the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, which calls all believers to pursue the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of charity. Quoting Lumen gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, he observed that the holiness of the People of God has consistently borne rich fruit throughout history, as reflected in the lives of countless saints.
The Pope encouraged Christians to embrace what he described as the “greatness” of their divine calling, stressing that holiness is not reserved for a few but is the universal vocation of every believer.
Concluding the ceremony, Pope Leo XIV prayed that the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Rose of Lima would intercede for all the faithful as they journey toward their heavenly homeland. He urged those present to become living witnesses of holiness in today’s world, reminding them that, with God’s grace, sanctity remains both possible and urgently needed in contemporary society.