This morning, the blessing of a mosaic dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and a statue of Saint Rose of Lima, donated by Peru, took place in the Vatican Gardens.

The following is the Pope’s greeting to those present:

Greeting of the Holy Father

Dear brothers and sisters,

We are gathered here today for a happy event: the inauguration of a mosaic dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and an image of Saint Rose of Lima in the Vatican Gardens. This gesture renews the deep bonds of faith and friendship that unite Peru – a country so dear to me – with the Holy See.

I warmly greet everyone present, especially the members of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, as well as His Excellency the Ambassador of Peru to the Holy See and the President of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

Gathered in this beautiful place, where everything speaks to us of the Creator and of the beauty of creation, I wish first of all to thank the artists who created these works, and those who made it possible today for us to enjoy this pleasant event.

The two figures represented, our heavenly Mother and the first Latin American saint, Rose of Lima, bring us to the theme of holiness. In this regard, let us remember what Vatican Council II says:  “Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity. … In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbour. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history” (Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium, 40).

Dear friends, these beautiful images we are contemplating today recall the greatness of the vocation to which God calls us, namely, the universal vocation to holiness. I encourage you, with God’s grace, to be witnesses and examples of that holiness in today’s world. For that is God’s will: our own sanctification (cf. 1 Thess 4:3; Eph 1:4). May the Virgin Mary and all the saints intercede for us on our journey towards our heavenly homeland. With gratitude, I bless you from my heart. Thank you very much.