Thousands of Latin America pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for a special Mass. Pope Francis led a Creole Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and commonly referred to as the Queen of Mexico.
Music played a key role throughout the ceremony, filling the Basilica with plenty of folklore.
The so called Creole Mass was composed 50 years ago. It combines Christian faith with indigenous instruments and beats.
In his homily, Pope Francis highlighted the unifying power of Our Lady of Guadalupe in the Americas.
He explained that Our Lady proves that God vouches for the poor and needy. In light of the instability present in some parts of Latin American, the Pope prayed that the continent may be one of justice.
POPE FRANCIS
'May the continent become stronger through the needy, those who are now rejected by the idolatric system of the throw away culture, those who are treated as slaves, or seen as mere products at our disposal, or as pure waste.â?
He also called on Christians to have faith in Our Lady of Guadalupe and to stay loyal to the teachings of the Gospel.
POPE FRANCIS
'If this bold program scares us, or if this way of thinking threatens us, we only have to turn our hearts to Our Lady. That way we'll listen to the voice of a tender and caring Mother who asks us: 'Why are you afraid? Am I not by your side?'â?
Pope Francis described Latin America as the 'continent of hope.â? He explained that development will move forward there as long as scientific progress respects Christian tradition and promotes social equality.
As the Mass ended, he placed an individual golden flower at the feet of Our Lady. It's a flower that has made its way throughout parishes in the Americas. From Alaska to the Patagonia.
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