On the fourth day of his visit to Spain, Pope Leo traveled to the Benedictine monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat, 40 km from Barcelona on June 10, to pray before the revered image of the Virgin of Montserrat and entrust to her his “Petrine ministry and the church’s mission in a world that cries out for justice and peace.”

It was the beginning of a profoundly spiritual day for the missionary pope on his six-day journey to Spain, which included a visit to a prison and a meeting to those involved in charity work after the event. It will conclude this evening with Mass in the Basilica of La Sagrada Familia and the inauguration of its Tower of Jesus Christ on the centenary day of the death of its architect, Antoni Gaudi. 

The Abbey of Montserrat, founded in 1025, sits at an altitude of 720 meters on the side of the mountain of the same name. Last year it celebrated 1,000 years of uninterrupted monastic life. Today, some 50 monks live here, praying and working according to the Rule of St. Benedict.

It has become an international pilgrimage center because it is home to the revered image of the Virgin of Montserrat known as “La Moreneta” (“the little dark-skinned one” in Catalan) because of the dark color of her face and hands. The image is said to have been found by shepherds in a cave in the mountain in 880, but the present image—showing the Virgin Mary with the Infant Jesus on her lap and residing in the chapel of the abbey where Leo will pray and speak—is a Romanesque carving, made of white poplar wood, dating back the 12th century, according to booklet at the abbey prepared for the papal visit. 

That same text reveals that Pope Leo has several links to this monastery. In the 1990s, as a missionary in the city of Trujillo (northern Peru), he was one of the driving forces behind the construction of the church of the Virgin of Montserrat, and he mentioned this church in his homily today. Later, while serving as prior general of the Augustinian order (2001-2013), Robert Prevost made a retreat here. Moreover, as an Augustinian, he shares a strong harmony with the monastic life, the rule of St. Benedict and living in community. Moreover, in choosing the name Leo on his election as pope, he also established another link with Montserrat: The last pope with that name, Leo XIII, declared the Virgin of Montserrat as the patron of Catalonia in 1881. Leo XIV is the second pope to visit here after John Paul II.

Pope Leo travelled by car from Barcelona to Montserrat, under heavy escort, and arrived before midday to pray the rosary and deliver a homily in the basilica.

As he entered the basilica, he was cheered with great enthusiasm by the 1,000 children gathered outside. Once inside, he was welcomed by the abbot of Montserrat, Father Manel Gasch, and the local bishop, Xabier Gómez, O.P.

He then went to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and afterwards went to the altar, where surrounded by monks, cardinals and bishops he joined in praying the rosary. This ended with the singing of the Litany of Our Lady, and then Leo delivered his homily.

“I am pleased to be able to come to the feet of Our Lady of Montserrat to entrust to her, with full confidence in her maternal intercession, my Petrine ministry and the church’s mission in a world that cries out for justice and peace,” he told them.

“The walls of this sanctuary could tell us the countless stories of devotion, gratitude and hope that have unfolded around the Mother of God of Montserrat throughout the centuries,” he said. “They have also borne witness to the blood shed for the love of Jesus Christ. They have also been the guardians of the joys and sorrows, the happiness and tears of so many faithful and have heard the heavenly voices of the children’s choir from Europe’s oldest choir school.”

The statue of Our Lady, Pope Leo said, “moves us to deep conversion, as she did St. Ignatius of Loyola, who in this evocative place, after a night spent in prayer before the Virgin, laid aside his knightly arms—a moment that marked the beginning of a new life in the service of Jesus Christ.” Manresa and the cave where St. Ignatius wrote the Spiritual Exercises is about 12 miles from here.

The Augustinian pope invited those present, and a far greater audience following on national television, “to accept Mary’s invitation: ‘Do whatever he tells you’ (Jn 2:5).” He said these words spoken at Cana in Galilee “contain a true guide for Christian living, because Mary leads us to Christ and teaches us to listen to his voice, obey his word and allow him to transform us.”

He said: “Jesus shows us the path of mercy, reconciliation, truth and gentleness” and, at the same time, “exposes the violence that can lurk in our words and attitudes: criticism that humiliates, condemnation that destroys and aggression that divides.” He continued, “That hidden violence can often disguise itself as a kind of armor, which we use to protect our wounds, our fears and the suffering caused by injustice.”

He invited everyone to “contemplate Mary of Montserrat, who shows us Jesus as a helpless child resting in her lap, for here she is, alongside her Son, inviting us to love one another.” “Let us lay at her feet today the armor that has gradually hardened our hearts,” he added.

Leo told them further to ask Mary “to help us arm ourselves solely with the weapons of God.” He encouraged them, as pilgrims at Montserrat, “to reaffirm our service to God the Father, whom Jesus Christ has revealed to us.”

He noted that in the revered image, “the Virgin holds the globe in her right hand, a sign of her maternal care, for the whole world finds a place in her heart.” And: “She invites us to recognize one another as brothers and sisters, so that no one is excluded and that communion is stronger than every division.”

He concluded his homily by saying, “Let us ask Mary, Queen of Peace, to teach us to renounce hurtful words, hasty judgment, gossip and slander. May we also learn to cherish and nurture love within our families, among friends, in the workplace, on social media, in political debates and in Christian communities, so that hatred may give way to hope and peace.”

He reminded people that “Mary, Mother of the Church, always guides us to Jesus,” and told the Catalans that she is always for you “a princess.”

The deeply spiritual prayer service ended with the Ecolania de Montserrat, the boys’ choir that is trained here, leading the singing of the “Salve Regina” and the “Virolai,” during which Pope Leo went through a back corridor to the statue, where he prayed in front of LaMoreneta, entrusting to her his ministry and the mission of the church, and praying for justice and peace in the world.

Leo then went to the balcony overlooking the square where thousands of people were gathered. Speaking off the cuff and with great passion, he praised their “enthusiasm and faith” and said he had experienced this too in Madrid. He encouraged them to remain strong in the faith “that gives hope to the world.” He spoke for several minutes and concluded by imparting his blessing, drawing great applause and chants from the young people: “Papa Léon, ti queremos un monton” (“Pope Leo we love you greatly”). 

It was a spirited conclusion to a festive morning. From there, Leo returned to Barcelona, where this evening he will celebrate Mass in La Sagrada Familia.

Gerard O’Connell is America’s senior Vatican correspondent and author of The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Story of the Conclave That Changed History. He has been covering the Vatican since 1985.