09/05/2026
Mother’s Day invites us to give thanks for mothers who nurture life with compassion, strength, and faithful love. In this Marian month of May, we look to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the model of motherhood for the Church and the world.
At the final Mass of the recent Apostolic Journey, Pope Leo prayed before the image of Our Lady of Bisila, beloved in Equatorial Guinea and portrayed carrying the Child Jesus on her back in the traditional African style. Her name means “compassion”, a beautiful reflection of a mother’s vocation. When the first image of Our Lady of Bisila was carved, cultural elements were carefully included: traditional scarifications, bracelets, and the Child Jesus carried on Mary’s back rather than presented frontally. While customs and traditions may differ across the world, the love of a mother is universal.
As we honour mothers today, may we also look to Mary as their inspiration, a mother who trusted God completely and remained close to her Son throughout His life. May Mary, Mother of Compassion, walk with all mothers in our broken world, strengthening them with her love and interceding for all families today. 💖🌹
