KIMBEX, Angola – Pope Leo XIV urged young people in Angola to help build “a better, welcoming world, where there is no war, injustice, poverty or dishonesty” during a rosary service at the Marian shrine of Mama Maxima on Sunday.
This shrine, whose name means “Mother of the Heart” in Kimbundu, is one of the most famous Marian sanctuaries in Angola. Built by the Portuguese in the 17th century on a hill overlooking the Kwanza River, it has long been a place of pilgrimage and prayer for Angolan Catholics.
Addressing youth, members of the Legion of Mary and other pilgrims gathered at the shrine, the Pope said he was “happy to share this moment of Marian prayer” with them.
Leo said, “Together we have recited the Holy Rosary, an ancient and simple devotion that originated in the Church as a prayer for all.”
Quoting St. John Paul II, the Pope described the rosary as the prayer of Christianity that has “preserved the freshness of its beginnings and the feelings drawn by the Spirit of God to ‘go into the deep’ … to proclaim and even shout before the world that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.”
Leo said that in the “living and young Church of Angola” one can “truly feel the freshness of faith and the power of the Spirit.”
He reflected on the history of the temple, saying it has been a place where “over the centuries, many men and women have prayed in times of joy and also in moments of sadness and great suffering in the history of this country.”
He said, “For a long time, Mama Muxima has worked quietly to keep the heart of the Church alive and beating.” “He has so many hearts in his heart: yours, and the hearts of many who love, pray, celebrate, cry, and sometimes – even when unable to come in person – hand out their requests and petitions through letters and postal messages.”
“Mama Muxima welcomes everyone, listens to everyone and prays for everyone,” he said.
While meditating on the Glorious Mysteries, the Pope said the faithful were contemplating both their destiny in Christ and their mission in His love.
“On Easter, Jesus Christ conquered death and showed us the way back to the Father,” Leo said. “And so that we too can walk this bright and demanding path, sharing its beauty with the whole world, he has given us his Spirit, which activates and sustains us in our journey and our mission.”
He added, “Like Mary, we too were made for heaven.” “As we journey with joy toward heaven, we look to her as our good mother and model of piety. Following her example, we bring the light of the risen to all the brothers and sisters we meet.”
The Pope also reflected on the popular title of the shrine, saying that although it is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, the faithful have spontaneously renamed it “Mother of the Heart”.
He said, “It is a beautiful title, which makes us reflect on the heart of Mary: a pure and wise heart, capable of cherishing and contemplating extraordinary events in the life of the Son of God.”
Leo said that praying the rosary means taking concrete responsibility towards others.
“Praying the Ropika commits us to love every person with a mother’s heart – concretely and generously – and to devote ourselves to the well-being of one another, especially the poorest,” he said.
The Pope continued, “A mother loves all her children in the same way and with all her heart, even if each one is different.” “In the presence of the Mother of Hearts, we would like to promise to do the same.”
“We strive without measure so that no one lacks love,” he said. “We also want to provide the necessities to live with dignity and happiness: so that the hungry can have enough to eat, the sick can get the care they need, children can be guaranteed a proper education, and the elderly can live out their later years in peace.”
He said, “A mother thinks about all these things. In fact, Mary thinks about all these things, and she also invites us to share in her maternal concern.”
Turning again to the young people gathered in the temple, Leo pointed to the building of a new sanctuary there as a sign of a greater calling.
“Dear young people, members of the Legion of Mary, brothers and sisters, Our Lady asks us to be inspired by the feelings of her heart, so that we, like her, may become activists for justice and bearers of peace,” he said.
The Pope said, “Here, a great project is underway: the construction of a new temple, capable of welcoming all who come on pilgrimage. Everyone – especially you young people – should take this as a sign.”
“The Mother of Heaven entrusts to you also a great project: to build a better, welcoming world, where there is no longer war, injustice, poverty or dishonesty, and where the principles of the Gospel increasingly inspire and shape hearts, structures and programs for the good of all.”
“Love must prevail, not war!” Leo said. “This is what the Heart of Mary – the Heart of the Mother of All – teaches us.”
“Let us emerge from this temple as ‘messengers’ of life, bringing Mary’s tender embrace and God’s blessings to all,” he said.
At the end of his address, the Pope invoked a hymn familiar to devotees of Mama Máxima: “Mother of hearts, we come to you to offer everything to you.”
He said, “Dearest friends, let us offer everything to Mary, dedicate ourselves completely to our brothers and sisters, and joyfully receive the Lord’s blessing through her intercession, so that we can bring it to everyone.” “Amen.”
In his greeting, Bishop Emilio Sumbelello of Viana highlighted the importance of the devotion to Mama Muxima in Angola and said that the cornerstone of the future basilica in 2022 was laid by the President of the Republic and blessed by the late Cardinal Alexandre do Nascimento. The basilica will be dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception of Máxima, fulfilling a promise made by the Angolan government to the Catholic Church during St. John Paul II’s 1992 visit to the country.
For many Angolans, the shrine remains a powerful symbol of faith, national memory and hope.
This story was first published by ACI Stampa, the Italian language partner service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
