By Mario Galgano
On the eve of the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary, Pope Leo XIV celebrated Vespers at the Domus Australia in Rome, a church guesthouse that primarily accommodates Australian and English-speaking pilgrims and tourists.
Originally established as a Marist Fathers’ residence, the Domus Australia was acquired in the late 2000s by the Archdiocese of Sydney with support from other Australian dioceses. It was officially inaugurated in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI as a spiritual home for Australian pilgrims in Rome.
The celebration in Rome drew a significant crowd of faithful who greeted Pope Leo XIV with chants of “Viva il Papa!” and applause. Many gathered with their children at windows along the streets. Inside the chapel of Domus Australia — dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii — members of Rome’s Australian Catholic community assembled, joined by Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke.
For the Vespers service, Pope Leo XIV entered the church and paused silently before the Blessed Sacrament. The London-based choir The Gradualia Consort welcomed him with a rendition of Tu es Petrus.
A message of Marian hope
In his homily, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the role of the Virgin Mary in the context of the Jubilee Year, which he described as a time marked by hope. “In a particular way, Mary embodied through her trust that God would fulfil his promises,” the Pope said. “This hope, in turn, gave her the strength and courage to spend her life willingly for the sake of the Gospel and abandon herself entirely to God’s will.”
Pope Leo reminded the faithful that the Incarnation first took place “in Mary’s heart” before it occurred in her womb. God never delays, the Pope stated; rather, people are called to learn patience and trust: “God’s time is always perfect.”
Opening our hearts
Pope Leo XIV emphasized that God not only frees humanity from sin but also opens hearts, enabling us — like Mary — to say “yes” to His calling. Through baptism, all are made children of God. Quoting St. Augustine, the Pope said: “God created us without us, but He will not save us without us.” He called on believers to take an active role in God’s plan of salvation with fidelity, trust, and gratitude.
He concluded by inviting the faithful to pray the Magnificat with Mary. “In doing so” he said, “let us reflect on how Mary, the true Daughter of Zion, rejoiced in God, her Savior, because she saw the graces bestowed on her and how God has always been faithful to Abraham and his descendants.”
A spiritual home for Australians
Since its opening, Domus Australia has offered daily Mass in English, along with Eucharistic Adoration and sacred music. At its dedication in 2011, Pope Benedict XVI expressed hope that Australian pilgrims “would return home with a strengthened faith, a more joyful hope, and a more fervent love.” – Vatican News
