- Pope Leo returned to Castel Gandolfo for the feast of the Assumption, as he did last year.
- He celebrated Mass at the local parish and then led the midday Angelus.
- In his Angelus address, Pope Leo reflected on Mary's Assumption as revealing humanity's eternal destiny.
- He prayed for the Holy Land, Ukraine, Russia, and Colombia, inviting the faithful to invoke Mary's intercession.
- Pope Leo marked the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by inviting the faithful to contemplate their ultimate destiny: the fullness of eternal life in God.
- He described the Assumption as a feast of great importance for Catholic theology and for popular devotion.
- The Assumption is particularly cherished in communities whose cathedrals or parish churches are dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.
- Pope Leo emphasized that the Assumption points towards the destiny awaiting all the faithful.
During the midday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Assumption of Mary, inviting the faithful to contemplate their ultimate destiny of eternal life in God.127910
"The Assumption is a feast of great importance both for Catholic theology and for popular devotion," he stated, addressing pilgrims in Castel Gandolfo.8
The Pope highlighted the ancient tradition of Mary's Dormition, where she is depicted surrounded by the Apostles, with Christ taking her into heaven.
"I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also," he quoted, emphasizing the promise of eternal life.
He also noted a later Western tradition showing Mary in heaven, surrounded by light and angels, echoing the Book of Revelation's vision of a woman clothed with the sun.
In his prayers, Pope Leo expressed solidarity with those in need, saying, "I continue to pray for the people of Colombia who are suffering due to the earthquake." He also prayed for the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, united in their devotion to Mary, and for those in the Holy Land.456
Concluding his message, he reminded the faithful that the Assumption points towards the destiny awaiting all believers, quoting Saint Paul on the transformation of humanity's bodies into glorious forms.
“The Pope celebrated Mass at the local parish and led the Angelus from Castel Gandolfo, where he returned for the feast as he did last year. He also invoked Mary's intercession for Christians facing discrimination and persecution, and for those affected by the recent earthquake in Colombia.”
