Why popes and other Catholics pray to the Virgin Mary

Pope Leo XIV concluded his first public blessing as pontiff with a heartfelt Hail Mary, invoking the feast of Our Lady of Pompei. On his inaugural papal journey, he visited the Sanctuary of Our Mother of Good Counsel in the medieval village of Genazzano, and on the return drive, paused to pray at the tomb of Pope Francis in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major.

These stops mark just a few among the countless devotions to the Virgin Mary found across the world—devotions that remain central to the faith of Catholics, from popes to everyday believers. Even those only loosely connected to the Church are familiar with the phrase "Hail Mary," which has found its way into popular culture.

As the month of May—traditionally dedicated to honoring Mary—unfolds, it offers a moment to reflect on why the Virgin holds such a powerful place in Catholic spirituality.

One Mary, Many Names

In the Gospels, Mary is presented as the mother of Jesus, and the mystery of God becoming flesh through her is a cornerstone of Christian belief.

The earliest and most theologically profound title attributed to her is Theotokos—Greek for "Mother of God." This designation was affirmed after intense early Church debates and remains central to Christian doctrine.

Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest existing church dedicated to this title, was constructed in the 5th century. According to tradition, its location was chosen after a miraculous August snowfall—an event now commemorated each year on the feast of Our Lady of the Snows.

Mary’s titles generally fall into three main categories: theological dogmas, Marian apparitions, and devotional needs.

• Doctrinal Feasts: The Assumption, celebrated on August 15, honors the belief that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven. In Catholic-majority countries like Italy and Greece, it’s a major religious and cultural holiday—one that even secular life pauses to observe.
  
  
• Apparitional Titles: Mary’s reported appearances have inspired massive devotion. In December, millions honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is said to have appeared to an Indigenous man in Mexico in 1531. Other renowned sites include Fatima in Portugal and Lourdes in France.
  
  
• Devotional Titles: Many titles arise from the faithful’s specific needs—like Our Lady of Good Counsel, Our Lady of Protection, or Stella Maris (Star of the Sea), patroness of seafarers.
  
  

One Devotion, Many Forms

Despite the global spread of Marian devotion, Mary is depicted differently across cultures and historical periods.

There are Black Madonnas, like Brazil’s beloved Virgin of Aparecida. Some icons show Mary pregnant, others as an elderly woman. Most often, she appears with the infant Jesus—like in the 15th-century painting in Genazzano where Jesus is seen gently clasping his mother’s neck.

These portrayals serve not only as art but as theological teaching tools. Mary’s gaze on Jesus reminds the faithful to direct their own devotion toward Christ.

Importantly, Catholic teaching distinguishes between veneration of Mary and worship of God. “Mary is honored, not worshipped,” explained Giuseppa Falanga, a liturgy professor at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome.

A Mother's Appeal

Mary’s enduring draw lies in her identity as a mother—a compassionate intercessor whom many turn to in times of need.

Although the tradition of dedicating May to Mary became popular in the 19th century, it has ancient roots: the Romans and Greeks once honored goddesses of fertility during this season of new life. Today, the alignment with Mother’s Day in countries like Italy and the U.S. only reinforces this maternal connection.

At the Genazzano sanctuary, two mothers who attended a recent weekday Mass said they regularly pray for their adult children to remain close to the faith.

“The Madonna has held my hand since childhood,” said Anastasia Galizia, a local resident who was present during Pope Leo’s visit. “I ask her to teach me to love her son—and I pray for conversion, for myself, my family, and the whole world.”

In Rome’s Basilica of St. Augustine—run by the Augustinian order to which Pope Leo belongs—two particular Marian shrines draw mothers: one to the “Madonna of Labor” for expectant women, and another to St. Monica, mother of St. Augustine, known for her tireless prayers for her son’s spiritual conversion.

“We often welcome mothers who come to pray for their children,” said the basilica’s rector, Rev. Pasquale Cormio. “They ask the Lord to touch their hearts and bring them back to the faith.”