Pope sends videomessage for inauguration of mosaics in Malta

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis has sent a videomessage to the Bishop of Gozo in Malta, Mario Grech, on the occasion of the inauguration of the mosaics of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Ta 'Pinu. There are three mosaics and depict the Virgin and Child; St. John the Baptist and St. Paul. The three works were installed on the central port of the Sanctuary and were made by the Aletti Center.

Please find an English translation of the videomessage below.

Dear pilgrims,

I accept with joy the invitation to greet all of you who are today assembled at the Shrine of the Virgin of Ta 'Pinu, where a great embrace of mosaics awaits Jesus and his Mother.

The image of the churchyard, which today is inaugurated, lays before our eyes the beauty of a simple contemplative prayer, accessible to all, great and small: the prayer of the holy Rosary. I too often used the Rosary in front of a mosaic: a small mosaic of Our Lady with the Child, where Mary appears in the centre, while in reality, using her hands, she becomes a kind of ladder through which Jesus can descend in the midst of us. The centre is always Jesus, who lowers himself to walk with us men so that we can ascend into Heaven with Him.

In the Rosary prayer we turn to the Virgin Mary to bring us closer to her Son Jesus, to know him and to love him more and more. And while we repeat "Hail Mary," we meditate on the mysteries, the Joyful, luminous, sorrowful and glorious stages of Christ's life, but also of our lives: for we walk with the Lord. This simple prayer, in fact, helps us to contemplate all that God has done for us and for our salvation in his love, and makes us understand that our life is united to that of Christ. In prayer, we are giving everything to God: fatigue, hurt, fears, but also joys, gifts, people ... all to God. By praying, we allow God to enter into our time, to accept and transfigure all that we live. This powerful prayer of the Holy Rosary serves us often because it brings peace to hearts, to families, to the Church, and to the world.

And, please do not forget to pray for me. May the Lord bless you and the Virgin Mother protect you.

Pope Francis' videomessage can be downloaded here.