Pope Francis greeted the faithful today on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe with the rousing cheer of  “Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!”

The Pope’s exhortation came after praying the Angelus with the crowd gathered in St. Peter’s Square. A large portion of the crowd came from countries around the world, visiting the square to pray the Rosary in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Holy Father noted the many flags, especially from Latin America. In fact, to greet this part of the crowd he switched languages from Italian to Spanish.

“And now, allow me to change to Spanish so I can warmly greet the communities of the entire Latin American continent and the Philippines – how many flags from Latin American countries – who have gathered here in Saint Peter’s Square to recite the Rosary in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe and to consecrate themselves to her, congratulations!” Pope Francis said. “I congratulate you who, by doing this, have united yourselves to those who from Alaska to Patagonia are celebrating Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of the true God by whom we live, every 12 December.

“May the Virgin of Guadalupe and Saint Juan Diego teach us how to always walk together from the peripheries toward the center in communion with the Successor of the Apostles, who are the Bishops, so as to bear good news to everyone. This experience must be repeated over and over again. In this way, God, who is communion, will move us toward conversion and the renewal of the Church and of society, that we need so much in the Americas – the situation in many Latin American countries is very sad – as well as throughout the world.

“I am happy that through acts of faith, and public witness such as what you are doing today, we begin preparations for the Jubilee of Guadalupe in 2031, and the Jubilee of the Redemption in 2033, we always have to keep looking forward, right? Everyone together – Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!”