- 07 October, 2025
Rome, October 7, 2025:
On the eve of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary, Pope Leo XIV led Vespers at the Domus Australia in Rome, a guesthouse and spiritual hub for Australian and English-speaking pilgrims.
The Domus Australia, originally a Marist Fathers’ residence, was purchased in the late 2000s by the Archdiocese of Sydney with support from other Australian dioceses. Pope Benedict XVI formally inaugurated it in 2011 as a spiritual home for Australians in the Eternal City.
The Vespers celebration drew a large gathering of faithful who greeted Pope Leo with cheers of “Viva il Papa!” and applause. Families, many with children, crowded at windows along the streets to welcome him. Inside the chapel — dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii — members of Rome’s Australian Catholic community assembled alongside Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.
Pope Leo entered the church and paused silently before the Blessed Sacrament. The London-based Gradualia Consort choir welcomed him with a solemn rendition of Tu es Petrus.
A message of Marian hope
In his homily, the Pope reflected on the Virgin Mary’s role in the Jubilee Year, describing it as a time of profound hope. “In a particular way, Mary embodied hope through her trust that God would fulfil his promises,” he said. This hope, he added, gave Mary the courage to devote her life to the Gospel and surrender herself entirely to God’s will.
He reminded the congregation that the Incarnation first occurred “in Mary’s heart” before it took place in her womb. “God never delays,” he said. “God’s time is always perfect. We are the ones called to learn patience and trust.”
Opening our hearts
Pope Leo stressed that God not only liberates humanity from sin but also opens hearts, enabling believers — like Mary — to respond “yes” to His calling. Through baptism, he affirmed, all become children of God.
Quoting St. Augustine, the Pope declared: “God created us without us, but He will not save us without us.” He urged the faithful to take an active role in God’s plan of salvation, marked by fidelity, trust, and gratitude.
He concluded his homily by inviting the congregation to join Mary in praying the Magnificat. “In doing so,” he said, “let us reflect on how Mary, the true Daughter of Zion, rejoiced in God, her Saviour, because she recognised the graces bestowed upon her and God’s unfailing faithfulness to Abraham and his descendants.”
A spiritual home for Australians
Since its opening, Domus Australia has served as a centre of worship for Australian pilgrims, offering daily Mass in English, Eucharistic Adoration, and sacred music. At its dedication, Pope Benedict XVI had expressed his hope that visitors would return home “with a strengthened faith, a more joyful hope, and a more fervent love.”
Courtesy: Vatican News
Download Catholic Connect App for Daily News Updates:
Android: Click here to download
© 2025 CATHOLIC CONNECT POWERED BY ATCONLINE LLP
