The following is the text of the video message sent by the Holy Father Francis to Msgr. Mario Grech, bishop of the Maltese diocese of Gozo, and to the pilgrims gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, on the occasion of the inauguration of three mosaics on the central door of the Basilica:

Video Message of the Holy Father

Dear pilgrims,

I have accepted with joy the invitation to address a greeting to all of you, gathered here today at the Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, where in a great embrace of mosaics Jesus and His Mother await you.

The image of the churchyard, which today you inaugurate, places before our eyes the beauty of a simple contemplative prayer, accessible to all, great and small: a little mosaic of the Virgin and Child, where it seems that at the centre there is Mary, while in reality She, using her hands, becomes a sort of staircase by which Jesus can descend among us. The centre is always Jesus, Who stoops to walk with us men, so that we can rise to Heaven with Him.

In the prayer of the Rosary we address the Virgin Mary so that she may lead us ever closer to her Son Jesus, to know and love Him ever more. And as we repeat “Hail Mary”, we meditate on the mysteries, the joyful, luminous, painful and glorious episodes in the life of Christ, but also of our life: because we walk with the Lord. Indeed, this simple prayer helps us to contemplate all that God in His love has fulfilled for us and for our salvation, and enables us to understand that our life is joined to that of Christ. By praying, we bring everything to God: our hardships, our wounds and our fears, but also our joys, our gifts, people dear to us… all to God. In prayer, we allow God to enter in our time, to receive and transfigure all that we live. Make frequent use of this powerful tool that is the prayer of the Holy Rosary, so that it may bring peace to hearts and to families, in the Church and in the world.

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