Devotion to the Virgin Mary has shaped the spiritual lives and pontificates of many popes, offering a deeply personal dimension to their ministry. For St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and Pope Leo XIV, Mary has been not only a theological figure, but a true spiritual mother and guide.
Mary and the Last Four Popes
St. John Paul II and “Totus Tuus”
St. John Paul II’s Marian devotion was captured in his episcopal motto, Totus Tuus (“Totally Yours”), expressing his complete entrustment to Mary.
“When the Holy Father became bishop in Kraków, he already adopted the motto Totus Tuus,” recalled Fr. Paweł Ptasznik. “It was a kind of shorthand expressing that he entrusted himself completely… to her Son.”
This Marian spirituality shaped his entire pontificate, particularly through his encyclical Redemptoris Mater, which helped deepen the Church’s understanding of Mary’s role in salvation history.
His devotion was also made visible in St. Peter’s Square, through the installation of the Mater Ecclesiae mosaic on the façade of the Apostolic Palace.
After the 1981 assassination attempt, John Paul II revisited an earlier remark about the absence of Mary in the square. “Yes, that needs to be completed — the square should be finished,” he had said, leading to the creation of the now-iconic image.
Benedict XVI and Altötting
Pope Benedict XVI’s Marian devotion was deeply rooted in his Bavarian upbringing. Born near the shrine of Altötting, one of Germany’s most important Marian pilgrimage sites, he often described it as a spiritual home.
The future pope frequently reflected that the “threads” of his life always led back to this place, where generations of faithful have entrusted their prayers to the Blessed Virgin.
Pope Francis and St. Mary Major
For Pope Francis, Marian devotion found its center in the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, the oldest Marian shrine in the West.
Throughout his pontificate, he made 126 visits to pray before the icon of Salus Populi Romani, entrusting key moments of his ministry to Mary. The basilica became his place of prayer before and after apostolic journeys—and ultimately, his final resting place.
Pope Leo XIV and Our Lady of Pompeii
Pope Leo XIV continues this strong Marian tradition. Elected on May 8, the feast of Our Lady of Pompeii, he marked the first anniversary of his pontificate with a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Pompeii.
“Exactly one year ago… it was precisely the day of the Supplication to the Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii,” he said. “Therefore, I had to come here to place my service under the protection of the Holy Virgin.”
His visit underscored a desire to entrust his Petrine ministry to Mary’s maternal care from the very beginning.
A Lifelong Devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel
Pope Leo’s Marian devotion began long before his election. As an Augustinian, he was formed under the patronage of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a title especially venerated in Genazzano, near Rome.
“Entering the convent in Chicago… he was immediately formed in devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Mother of Good Counsel,” said Fr. Ludovico Maria Centra.
Throughout his life, he repeatedly returned to the shrine in Genazzano at key moments. “Every time he received significant responsibilities… he immediately came here to pray to the Madonna,” Fr. Centra noted.
Just two days after his election, Pope Leo XIV returned once again—this time as Successor of Peter—entrusting his mission to Mary.
A Living Marian Tradition
From Kraków to Altötting, from St. Mary Major to Pompeii and Genazzano, Marian devotion continues to shape the heart of the Church’s leadership.
Across generations, the message remains consistent: in turning to Mary, the faithful—and the popes themselves—find a sure path to Christ, sustained by her maternal care and intercession.
Source: https://ewtnvatican.com/articles/mary-and-the-last-four-popes
