US EditionHail Mary, Full of Grace: Why Popes and Other Catholics Pray to the Virgin Mary
- In 2025, Pope Leo XIV embarked on his first papal journey by visiting the Shrine of Our Mother of Good Counsel located in the historic village of Genazzano, and later paused to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis within Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major.
- This visit reflected longstanding Catholic veneration of the Virgin Mary, especially significant on the feast day of Our Lady of Pompei and coinciding with Marian devotions in May.
- The Basilica of St. Mary Major, built in the 5th century on a Roman hill reportedly after a papal dream and an August snowfall, is Rome’s oldest Marian sanctuary.
- Pope Leo XIV concluded his initial public blessing as pope with a prayer of the Hail Mary, while mothers often visit Marian shrines such as Genazzano and the Basilica of St. Augustine to pray for their children’s continued faith.
- The visit and widespread Marian devotion emphasize Catholic practices of honoring Mary with veneration, not worship, as a central element supporting faith among the faithful and praying mothers.
Insights by Ground AI
Does this summary seem wrong?
37 Articles
37 Articles
All
Left
21
Center
8
Right
3
Associated Press News+34 Reposted by 34 other sources
Hail Mary, full of grace: Why popes and other Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary
The veneration of Virgin Mary is central to Catholics, from popes to the ordinary faithful. Pope Leo XIV closed the first public blessing as pontiff with a Hail Mary, after invoking the feast day of Our Lady of Pompei.
·United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources37
Leaning Left21Leaning Right3Center8Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Left
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources lean Left
66% Left
L 66%
C 25%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
Ownership
To view ownership data please Upgrade to Vantage
