In the words of Pope Francis:
God himself needed a Mother: how much more
so do we! Jesus himself gave her to us, from the
cross: “Behold your mother!” (Jn 19:27). He said
this to the beloved disciple and to every disciple. Our Lady is not an optional accessory: she has to be welcomed into our life. She is the Queen of peace, who triumphs over evil and leads us along paths of goodness, who restores unity to her children, who teaches us compassion.
Mary, take us by the hand. Clinging to you, we will pass safely through the straits of history. Lead us by the hand to rediscover the bonds that unite us. Gather us beneath your mantle, in the tenderness of true love, where the human family is reborn. Let us together pray these words to Our Lady: “We fly to thy protection, O Holy Mother of God”. Pope Francis, 1 January 2019