Concluding the Marian month, the Rosary recited with candle lights through the Vatican Gardens

Under Our Lady’s maternal mantle

A few thousand flames illuminated the evening of Saturday, May 31, in the Vatican Gardens. As per tradition at the end of the Marian month, hundreds of faithful participated in the recitation of the Rosary.

Starting from the church of Santo Stefano degli Abissini, the candle light procession took place through the lanes of the Vatican Gardens, winding its way up to reach the Grotto of Lourdes. Leading it was Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica, Vicar General of His Holiness for the Vatican City, and President of the Fabbrica di San Pietro.

At the end of the Rosary, Pope Leo XIV arrived at the Grotto of Lourdes and before imparting his Apostolic Blessing gave the faithful a greeting in which he underlined how this is "a gesture of faith which in a simple and devout way we gather under the maternal mantle of Mary. This year, therefore, it recalls some important aspects of the Jubilee that we are celebrating: veneration, spiritual journey, hope and, above all, faith meditated and manifested together in unity". The Pope then addressed a special thought to the nuns who live in the Vatican Gardens: "I would like to express particular affection and gratitude to the Benedictine Sisters of the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, who with their hidden and constant prayer support our community and our work".