Pope Francis and the Virgin Mary

Book excerpt: A devotional keepsake that focuses on Pope Francis’s love for the Virgin Mary. This beautifully illustrated book highlights one of the main aspects of Pope Francis’s spirituality: his veneration of the Virgin Mary. A valuable source of inspiration, this book includes a collection of quotes from his speeches, prayers, and tweets that directly refer to his worship of the Holy Mary. Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s faith has always been marked by his strong devotion to the Mother of God; his first public act as Pope paid tribute to her in the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. His admiration is reflected in his coat of arms that features a star (according to heraldic tradition, the star symbolizes the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church), and reaches a peak in the devotion to “Mary Undoer of Knots,” which is spreading worldwide. Pope Francis helps believers to see the Virgin Mary not just as a mother, but also a sister and friend who possesses countless virtues. Accompanied by photographs of the Pope in his daily life, the images offer a glimpse into many personal and public moments that reveal his Marian devotion, seen through visits to various shrines and celebrations dedicated to the Virgin Mary.