The pope asked Assad "to ensure that international humanitarian law is fully respected with regard to the protection of the civilians and access to humanitarian aid."

In his homily for the feast, Pope Francis denounced the exclusion of so many people “from the train of life.”

"We are united in the blood of our martyrs," Pope Francis said.

“Violence is not the cure for our broken world,” the pope writes.

While other manifestations of Mary claim at most a region or country, Guadalupe is the only one to reign over two continents.

The pope is "bringing out into the very public setting of the papacy what any pastor does in his parish or diocese."