Pope Francis caresses a baby during an audience with health workers, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 3, 2019. (L'Osservatore Romano/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis has made the devotion to the Virgin Mary a new fixed celebration in the Roman Catholic calendar.
The Vatican published a decree Saturday in which Francis declared that the Mary "Mother of the Church" feast would be celebrated on the Monday following Pentecost. This year, it falls on May 21.
The decree said Francis wanted the devotion to "encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety."
History's first Latin American pope is particularly devoted to Marian piety and frequently refers to the church as "mother."
In 2016, Francis set another feast day for another key woman in Christ's life, declaring July 22 as the feast of St. Mary Magdalene.
Pope Francis is cheered by faithful during an audience with health workers, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 3, 2019. (L'Osservatore Romano/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis caresses a baby during an audience with health workers, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 3, 2019. (L'Osservatore Romano/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis greets faithful as he arrives for an audience with health workers, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Domenico Stinellis)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis arrives for an audience with health workers, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 3, 2019. (Ettore Ferrari/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press
Pope Francis greets faithful as he arrives for an audience with health workers, in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Saturday, March 3, 2019. (Ettore Ferrari/ANSA via AP)
The Associated Press