Pope Francis touched on the great mysteries of prayer and human freedom on this December 8, as he invited the faithful to pray for peace in Ukraine, an invitation he makes at every public audience.
Speaking about his trip this afternoon to Piazza Spagna, where he will venerate the image of the Immaculate Conception, he asked the faithful to “join me spiritually” in the gesture, “which expresses filial devotion to our Mother.”
This is the first year after the pandemic that the Pope is making an official visit to the plaza, as is papal tradition. In the heart of the pandemic, Francis still went to the statue, but he went early in the morning, and unofficially, so as not to bring together a crowd.
Today, he invites us to entrust to Our Lady’s intercession the “universal desire for peace …”
… especially for the martyred Ukraine, which is suffering so much.
I think of the Angel’s words to the Virgin, “Nothing is impossible to God” (Lk. 1:37). With God’s help, peace is possible; disarmament is possible. But God wants our good will. May Our Lady help us to convert to God’s designs.
And today we celebrate...