por Judy Álvarez, cooperadora salesiana

(Los Angeles, California) – On the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, September 15th, 9,000 pilgrims took part in a prayer vigil at St. Peter’s Basilica for the Jubilee of Consolation. As part of the Holy Year celebrations, this event remembered people experiencing a time of pain and affliction, due to illness, bereavement, violence, or abuse, together with their families and friends. 

The time of prayer included a Liturgy of the Word led by Pope Leo XIV and featured testimonies from two women who had suffered tragic loss through the violent deaths of their loved ones. Diane Foley, the mother of an American journalist, had suffered the death of her son at the hands of jihadists, members of the so-called Islamic State. Another woman, Lucia Di Mauro Montanino, suffered the loss of her husband, who was murdered by a group of young men in Naples, Italy. In both cases, they witnessed to being reconciled with the perpetrators of these crimes. It required them to meet their offenders with the help of God’s grace, and these encounters lead to healing.

Commenting on their witness, Pope Leo XIV said, “Consolation is found when faith stands ‘firm and stable,’ where it was once ‘unformed and hesitant’ like a boat in a storm….Where there is evil, we must seek the comfort and consolation that can overcome it and give it no respite.”¹

In 2022, Pope Francis offered a Catechesis on Discernment: Consolation, where he said:

“What is spiritual consolation? It is an experience of interior joy, that lets [us] see God’s presence in all things. It strengthens faith and hope, and even the ability to do good. The person who experiences consolation never gives up in the face of difficulties because he or she always experiences a peace that is stronger than the trial. It is, therefore, a tremendous gift for spiritual life and for life in general… and to live this interior joy.” ²

How was this possible for these women?

“Ms. Foley shared her struggle not to become bitter but to turn to God despite her anger. She looked to Mary, whose son was also killed despite His innocence, saying the Blessed Mother’s example taught her to walk in faith and trust in God.”³

Ms. Di Mauro accepted a request to see the youngest perpetrator in prison. ”In front of me I found a boy who was trembling, who was crying, who was asking forgiveness, and the only possible thing was a long embrace,” she said. “There I felt within me the desire and the possibility to transform pain into something new.”⁴

Pope Leo pointed to their witness of reconciliation and the truth they revealed: “pain must not give rise to violence.”⁵  Instead, forgiveness can break the cycle of evil, allowing love to conquer hate. In doing so, we bring God’s Kingdom to earth where justice is grounded in God’s mercy. 

What consolation do you seek? What mercy are you willing to offer? With the help of Our Mother of Sorrows and the grace of God, may we find the love to forgive as we have been forgiven.

---

1. News, Vatican. “Pope at Jubilee: Consolation Is Found in “Firm and Stable” Faith.” Vaticannews.va, Vatican News, 15 Sept. 2025. ↩︎
2. “General Audience of 23 November 2022 – Catechesis on Discernment. 9. Consolation | Francis.” Vatican.va, 23 Nov. 2022, ↩︎
3. News, Vatican. “Pope at Jubilee: Consolation Is Found in “Firm and Stable” Faith.” Vaticannews.va, Vatican News, 15 Sept. 2025. ↩︎
4. Ibid. ↩︎
5. Ibid. ↩︎