Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday described the Blessed Virgin Mary as the perfect model of the Church and urged Catholics around the world to learn from her example of faith, humility and service.
Speaking during his weekly General Audience in St Peter’s Square on the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, the Pope reflected on the role of Mary in the life of the Church. He said the faithful should look to her as a guide in living a deeper Christian life and remaining united with the Church.
Continuing his catechesis series on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, Pope Leo focused on Lumen gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, especially its final chapter dedicated to the Virgin Mary.
Pope explained that Mary reflects the mystery and mission of the Church in a unique way. He said the people of God find in her their origin, their model and their spiritual home.
He noted that the Church sees in Mary the example of perfect faith, maternal love and complete openness to God’s will. According to the Pope, Mary shows what the Church is called to become through faithfulness to God and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother and to ask for her help in responding to God’s call in their daily lives.
During the catechesis, he invited Catholics to examine their relationship with the Church and their personal faith. He asked whether believers participate in the life of the Church with humble and active faith, whether they recognise the Church as the community given by God, and whether they look to Mary as a faithful model of discipleship.
Quoting from Lumen gentium, the Pope described Mary as the “model, member and mother” of the Church. He said she became the perfect example of the Church because she welcomed Jesus through faith and love and allowed herself to be guided completely by God’s grace.
The Pope also highlighted Mary as the “believer par excellence,” saying she accepted God’s plan without reservation and remained fully open to the divine mystery throughout her life.
At the same time, he said Mary is the mother of the entire Church because she continues to guide and care for all believers. Catholics, he said, can turn to her with confidence, trusting that they are heard, protected and loved.
Pope Leo further described Mary as “the woman who is the icon of the Mystery.” He explained that she was a real young woman from Israel chosen by God for a special mission in salvation history. Through her free acceptance of God’s will, he said, the hidden plan of salvation was revealed fully in Jesus Christ.
The Pope stressed that Jesus Christ alone is the mediator of salvation, while Mary’s role is to lead believers toward her Son and help strengthen their union with Him.
Concluding his address, Pope Leo prayed that the Holy Spirit would help all Christians live fully within the Church and deepen their love for the Holy Mother Church.
The audience took place on the same day Catholics worldwide celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the apparitions of the Virgin Mary reported by three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.