Pope Leo: Believe as Mary believed, say 'yes' to God

Source: Vatican News

On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, today, Pope Leo XIV prayed the Angelus with pilgrims in St Peter's Square and invited us to believe as Mary did to welcome Christ into their lives.

"The 'yes' of the Mother of the Lord is wonderful, but so also can ours be, renewed each day faithfully, with gratitude, humility and perseverance, in prayer and in concrete acts of love, from the most extraordinary gestures to the most mundane and ordinary efforts and acts of service," the Pope emphasized.

"In this way, Christ can be known, welcomed and loved everywhere, and salvation can come to everyone."

In his address, the Pope highlighted how the Lord gave the Virgin Mary "the extraordinary grace of a completely pure heart" in light of the coming of Christ. As the Angel Gabriel greeted her by saying "Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with you," she discovered and welcomed her mission "with the wonder typical of the humble," the Pope continued.

"With faith she responded with her 'yes': 'Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word'," the Pope explained, citing the Gospel of Luke, verse 38.

He emphasized how this grace was able to bear fruit in Mary "because she, in her freedom, welcomed it, embracing the plan of God." "The Lord always acts in this way: he gives us great gifts, but he leaves us free to accept them or not," the Pope insisted.

He cited St Augustine, who said "we also believe, because that which came to be, can also benefit us." Pope Leo encouraged the faithful to believe simply as the Blessed Virgin did and welcome whatever mission God calls one to.

The Pope also highlighted the importance of the sacrament of Baptism in allowing Jesus to enter one's life: "The miracle, which took place at Mary's conception, was renewed for us in Baptism: cleansed from original sin, we have become children of God, his dwelling place and the temple of his Spirit."

He explained that just as Mary, "by means of a special grace," was able to welcome Christ in herself and then bring him to others, so too the sacrament of Baptism allows Jesus "to live in us and allows us to live united with him, to cooperate in the Church, each according to his or her condition, for the transformation of the world."

After greeting various groups present in St Peter's Square, the Pope reminded the faithful that this afternoon, he will pay homage to the Virgin Mary at the feet of the Spanish Steps in Rome, where there is a statue of Our Lady. Every year, on this feast day, the Pope crosses the city bringing a wreath of flowers that he lays at the base of the column on which she is placed. A team of firemen then take the wreath to the top of the 27-metre column and place it on her head.

LINKS

Watch today's Angelus on the Vatican Youtube channel: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wny7XA_OZdE

Read the full text of Pope Leo's address, in English: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/12/08/0966/01749.html