On Sunday, May 18, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate the Mass of inauguration of his Petrine ministry in St. Peter’s Square. Surprisingly, this date connects with several other popes — the first being named a recent saint. 

St. John Paul II’s birthday is May 18; he was born on this day in 1920 in Wadowice, Poland. When he was elected to the papacy in 1978, he became the first non-Italian to be elected as the Holy Father since the 16th century. Now, Leo XIV has become the first U.S.-born pope — in 2,000 years. 

In his homily at his papal inauguration in 1978, John Paul II clearly emphasized, “Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ.” 

Days after his election, Leo XIV echoed this message during Mass in the Crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica on May 11. “Take courage! Without fear!” he said. “Many times in the Gospel Jesus says: ‘Do not be afraid.’ We need to be courageous in the witness we give, with the world and above all with life: giving life, serving, sometimes with great sacrifices in order to live out this very mission.” 

That same day, at his Regina Caeli prayer, Leo again emphasized this theme, specifically telling the youth: “And to young people, I say: ‘Do not be afraid! Accept the invitation of the Church and of Christ the Lord!’” 

These popes’ similar themes also include Mother Mary. 

At John Paul II’s second Angelus address, he focused strongly on a Marian theme. “I wish to draw your attention to the Rosary,” he said. 

“The Rosary is my favorite prayer. A marvelous prayer! Marvelous in its simplicity and in its depth. In this prayer we repeat many times the words that the Virgin Mary heard from the Archangel and from her kinswoman Elizabeth. The whole Church joins in these words. It can be said that the Rosary is, in a certain way, a prayer-commentary on the last chapter of the Constitution Lumen Gentium of Vatican II, a chapter which deals with the wonderful presence of the Mother of God in the mystery of Christ and the Church.” 

After a few words on the mysteries, John Paul II added, “At the same time our heart can enclose in these decades of the Rosary all the facts that make up the life of the individual, the family, the nation, the Church and mankind. Personal matters and those of one’s neighbor, and particularly of those who are closest to us, who are dearest to us. Thus the simple prayer of the Rosary beats the rhythm of human life.” 

In these early days there are indications Leo XIV will also be a Marian pope, as was John Paul II and Leo XIII before them. Leo led the Rosary in St. Peter’s Square in March for the healing of Francis. And the day after being elected he made a surprise visit to the Shrine of the Mother of Good Counsel in Genazzano, just outside Rome, that is administered by the Augustinians. 

More May 18 Connections 

May 18 is normally the feast day of Pope St. John I, who was fervent in the faith. In the early sixth century he became a martyr after he was imprisoned by a heretical Germanic king because John I would not agree to supporting the Arians (who heretically challenged the Nicene Creed) according to the king’s demands. His feast day is the same date in the Byzantine tradition. 

As saints go, May 18 is also the feast of St. Stanislaus Papczyński, the founder of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The founding took place almost 200 years before the Immaculate Conception was declared an official Church dogma. 

Again, as with John Paul II and in the first address of Leo XIV, the Marian theme was prominent with this saint. The three goals for his new community were to “promote devotion to the Immaculate Conception, to pray for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, and to minister to people lacking spiritual guidance.” This second goal certainly ties into what St. Nicholas of Tolentino, a saint Leo XIV reportedly has a devotion to, was doing about the holy souls in purgatory.  

Then during the week of May 18, the feast day of St. Rita of Cascia, a 14th-15th century Augustinian nun who died in 1456 falls on May 22. Her parents were well noted for their charity and called “Peacemakers of Jesus Christ.” Leo XIV has already called for peace several times in his early public words. Plus, he is the first Augustinian Pope. 

Also of note as Pope Leo inaugurates his papacy is that his coat of arms’ fleur-de-lis reflects his strong connection to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

More Marian Connections 

At the end of the week, Saturday, May 24, celebrates Our Lady as Mary, Help of Christians. The title dates to 1571 when Mary, Help of Christians saved Christendom when European Catholics prayed the Rosary for her help against foreign invaders. 

Then, in 1809, after Napoleon arrested and imprisoned Pope Pius VII, the Holy Father vowed to institute a special honor for Mary if he were returned to the Vatican. The year after he returned there, in 1814, Pius VII decreed the feast of Mary, Help of Christians would be celebrated on May 24. 

This year, a day later on May 25, Pope Leo XIV will celebrate Mass at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. 

Later that evening, Leo will visit the Basilica of St. Mary Major. There, he will venerate the celebrated icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Salus Populi Romani, as he did on May 10. It will be a very fitting papal tribute to Our Lady — and following the papal tradition of his predecessors Pope Francis, Benedict XVI and John Paul II in particular.