Rome: The bishops have urged Pope Francis to describe the Virgin Mary as “the spiritual mother of all nations” in a global effort to combat the coronavirus epidemic. The letter was prepared by two cardinals and six bishops. Among the bishops who have appealed to the pope are former Archbishop of Ranchi in India and Cardinal Telesfor Topo, former CBCI president. In August 2019, the Pope issued a letter requesting the same.
The human society now needs a transformation. It only comes from the Lord Jesus and His mother. She commented that the request is reaffirming a situation in which the world is facing great tragedy at the personal, socio-political and human levels.
In addition to Cardinal Topo who represented Asia, Cardinal Juan Sandoval (Mexico) from Central America, Archbishop Felix Job (Nigeria) from Africa, Bishop John Keenan (Scotland) from Europe, Bishop David Riken (North) from North America, Bishop of South America (Argentina) and Syrian Catholic Archbishop Denis Raboula Antoine and Lebanese Archbishop Nabil Hague signed the letter.
Marc Miravalle, professor of Mariology at Ave Maria University in Florida, said: “The bishops’ request is of great importance and that only when the pope declares Mary to be the spiritual mother of all peoples will she be free to intercede for the suffering men of that title.”
