Pope pauses at Guadalupe statue to offer prayers, especially for moms

Published: 2005-05-12

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- During an afternoon stroll through the Vatican gardens, Pope Benedict XVI paused to offer prayers, especially for mothers, at a statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe. In his May 12 prayer, the pope said that the people of Mexico and Latin America invoke Mary as mother under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "Encouraged by the love you inspire in us, once again we place our lives into your maternal hands," Pope Benedict prayed. The Vatican newspaper reported that the pope laid flowers at the base of the statue, recited his prayer in Spanish, then prayed the Hail Mary in Spanish.

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .