"Immaculate Mary, by your side I learned to be the shepherd of Chiclayo. You accompanied me through its towns and cities. Immaculate Mary, by your side I learned to be the shepherd of Chiclayo. You accompanied me through its towns and cities. You taught me to meet its people and to be attentive to their needs," Pope Leo XIV said in his homily delivered during the Coronation Rite of the Immaculate Virgin's image, which he officiated at Santa María Cathedral in the "City of Friendship" on Saturday morning.
The current Supreme Pontiff had served as bishop of that diocese for eight years.
During this solemn liturgical ceremony, which, according to the Catholic faith, symbolizes the recognition of the Virgin Mary's dignity as "Queen of Heaven and Earth," her connection to the kingship of her son, Jesus Christ, and a public expression of the faithful's devotion and love for the Mother of God, the Holy Father emphasized the importance of this consecration for Chiclayo's faithful.
"The crown that I will place on the head of Our Lady is intended to symbolize the tribute of gratitude and filial love offered to her by the Pope, together with you and the entire Church, recognizing her as the caring mother and protector of Chiclayo, exalted by God as Queen of Heaven and Earth," the Supreme Pontiff said.
He addressed bishops, priests, religious men and women, pastoral workers, and a multitude of faithful who filled Santa María Cathedral's interior as well as Chiclayo's entire Main Square.
Below is the full homily delivered by Pope Leo XIV during the Coronation Rite of the Immaculate Virgin.
Dear brothers and sisters,
With hearts filled with joy, I give thanks to God for being here with you today, celebrating our faith together, as we have done so many times in this cathedral, which has witnessed the first steps of my episcopal ministry in the service of this Diocese of Chiclayo.
With feelings of gratitude for the years the Lord granted us to walk together, I now prepare, as the successor of Peter, to crown our beautiful image of the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
This gesture has a special meaning, because the crown that I will place on the head of Our Lady is intended to symbolize the tribute of gratitude and filial love offered to her by the Pope, together with you and the entire Church, recognizing her as the caring mother and protector of Chiclayo, exalted by God as Queen of Heaven and Earth.
As we have heard in the reading from Isaiah, darkness continues to lurk even today and seems to envelop us completely.
We feel threatened by the uncertainty caused by widespread violence and by the unspeakable suffering that continues to afflict so many of our brothers and sisters. Yet, despite this darkness, which often obscures our hope and weakens our trust, God's gift continues to shine before our eyes. A child has been born to us, a son has been given to us.
This child is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Mary. Yes, a helpless child is God's answer to humanity, which is immersed in darkness yet longs for unity and reconciliation.
He alone is the light that illuminates the most hidden corners of human existence.
He is the only light capable of rescuing us from sin and undoing its dire consequences in our personal and community lives.
He reveals to us who we truly are: sons and daughters of God, invited to share in the joy of his salvation and in the gladness of knowing that we are brothers and sisters.
It is therefore fitting that we invoke the Immaculate Virgin as the cause of our joy, because, through the "yes" with which she responded to the angel's announcement, God made man enters the history of our world and, making all things new through obedience to the Father, rescues us from the tragedy of sin and reveals to us the eternal destiny to which every man and woman is called.
My beloved sons and daughters of this cherished land of Chiclayo, devotion to the Immaculate Virgin is part of the Christian roots that shape your identity and strengthen your faith.
The Mother of God, with loving care and devotion, has accompanied the people of this land for generations and continues to do so.
Therefore, trusting in her intercession and protection, I invite you to continue walking together as one family of God.
A family that longs for a world characterized by love and compassion, forgiveness, and the pursuit of justice.
A family that is confident that the Most Holy Mary always shows us the sure path that leads to Jesus, who is the source of abundant life and the truth that continually offers us new opportunities.
To you, our Immaculate Mother, I lift my gaze and my heart today with filial affection. By your side, I learned to be the shepherd of Chiclayo. You accompanied me through its towns and cities. You taught me to meet its people and to be attentive to their needs, as you did at the wedding at Cana. Today, I entrust my life and my ministry as the Successor of Peter to your Immaculate Heart.
I also ask you to watch over and protect the people of God who journey through these lands, and to always guide them toward your son, Jesus Christ.
Dear brothers and sisters, before concluding, and until we meet again, I would like us to join together in sharing this prayer to our heavenly Mother:
"Holy Mary, filled with the presence of God, who during your earthly life humbly obeyed the will of the Father and set us an example of simplicity, we beseech you to continue walking with us and, through your maternal heart, obtain for us from your Son, Jesus Christ, the gift of listening attentively to the Holy Spirit, so that, with the help of his grace, we may be ready to follow him faithfully, become builders of peace and reconciliation, and servants of the Kingdom of God and our brothers and sisters. Amen."
Next, the Vicar of Christ placed a beautiful golden crown on the Virgin Mary's head, prompting applause from the crowd gathered inside the cathedral.
People in Chiclayo's Main Square also followed the Eucharistic rite on large screens set up at strategic locations throughout the square, where they witnessed the ceremony.