From the very first moments of his papacy, Pope Leo XIV has made it abundantly clear that his heart is firmly rooted in a deep and abiding devotion to the Blessed Mother. On The Inner Life, Fr. Eckert couldn’t contain his joy as he reflected on how prominently Mary has featured in the new Pope’s early actions.

Right after stepping onto the balcony as the new Vicar of Christ, Pope Leo led the world in a Hail Mary, setting the tone for his papacy as one of Marian trust and childlike faith. He invoked Our Lady of Pompeii, a beloved symbol of prayer and protection in Italy, and made an early pilgrimage to St. Mary Major, where he publicly entrusted his papacy to her intercession.

One of the most poignant moments was when he sang the Salve Regina alongside fellow Augustinians and pilgrims, his voice echoing through St. Peter’s Square in a display of devotion that felt as much like a son calling out to his mother as it did a Pope leading the Church.

Fr. Eckert captured it perfectly, saying:

“Right out of the gate, he’s showing us what it means to entrust everything to the Blessed Mother.”

For Pope Leo XIV, Mary is not just a symbol but a living, loving guide. And in these first days of his papacy, he is already inviting the entire Church to take Mary’s hand and follow Christ more closely.