Pope Leo XIV invokes Mary's intercession for war-torn regions and quake-hit Colombia
Pope Leo XIV used the Assumption feast to pray for peace in the Holy Land, Ukraine, Russia, and for Colombia after a deadly earthquake.
Speaking from the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo on Saturday, Pope Leo XIV led prayers for communities enduring conflict and natural disaster, marking the Feast of the Assumption with a call for hope and consolation.
The pontiff invoked the Virgin Mary's maternal intercession for those he described as being in particular need of comfort. His thoughts turned first to the Holy Land, which he called the Land of Mary, and then to the peoples of Ukraine and Russia, both of whom he noted share a deep devotion to the Mother of God.
He also remembered Christians facing discrimination and persecution around the world. In his address to the faithful gathered in the square, the Pope extended his prayers to the people of Colombia, who are reeling from the effects of a powerful earthquake.
The 7.4 magnitude tremor has claimed at least 287 lives and disrupted the lives of more than 100,000 people. The Pope's remarks came during the midsummer feast, a significant date in the Catholic calendar, from the Vatican's historic summer residence south of Rome.