Pope Leo XIV arrived in Madrid. It seems hard to believe that we’re finally here after several weeks of preparations, meetings, phone calls, emails, and a lot of work behind every detail.
From the very beginning, a committee was formed, made up of people from different branches of Schoenstatt. Young and not-so-young. Couples, priests, Sisters of Mary, members of the Youth, and the League. People are very different from one another, but with something in common: the desire for the Schoenstatt Family to be present and well-represented during the Holy Father’s visit.
Not everything has indeed been easy. The time between the final announcement of the visit and the Pope’s actual arrival was very short. Difficulties arose with accreditations, access, and organizational issues that, at times, tested the patience of more than a few. But it is also true that, little by little, everything has fallen into place. As so often happens in Schoenstatt, when one looks back, one discovers that the Blessed Mother is putting each piece in its place.
As a committee, we have tried to ensure that all Schoenstatters are easily recognizable. Not for the sake of drawing attention to ourselves, but because we have a mission. We want those who see us to wonder who we are. We want them to approach us, ask questions, and discover the wonders of our Movement.
That is why we have proposed wearing blue, yellow, or white clothing, carrying the Pilgrim Mother, the scarves from the Javierada, the Camino de Santiago, the Jubilee, or other activities, the mission crosses, images of our beloved Blessed Mother, and so many other symbols that are part of our history and our journey.
We all have a duty to carry out our apostolate during these days with both the responsibility and the privilege of demonstrating that Schoenstatt is a true gift to the Church. We have three shrines in Spain. We have the MTA, which transforms lives. We have the three graces of the Shrine that so many of us have experienced at some point in our own lives. And we have a huge family that is ready to “Lift up Our Eyes.”
“Lift up your eyes” (Jn 4:35) is our motto too
Just a few hours before the Pope’s arrival, Masses and adoration services were held at both the Serrano and Pozuelo Shrines. And it was a true privilege. Everyone gathered around the same Lord under Mary’s protection.
Logistics were important, no doubt, but we wanted to prepare our hearts first. And there is no better way to do that than by standing before the Blessed Sacrament. Seeing the entire Schoenstatt Family united in adoration last night was a gift for everyone. Because in the end, beyond the credentials, the scarves, the colors, or the organization, what truly matters is that Christ is at the center.
Exciting days are ahead. There will be early mornings, sleepless nights, walks, and many hours on our feet. There will be encounters, hugs, and moments we will surely remember for a long time. But let us not forget the message of Leo XIV: Lift up your eyes.
Madrid is welcoming Pope Leo XIV.
And in Schoenstatt, lifting our gaze, so are we.