Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Pope Leo’s emotion is all smiles after singing the Marian antiphon on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the pontifical parish church of St Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo.

Here is the full Latin text of Ave Regina Caelorum:

Ave, Regina cælorum,
Ave, Domina Angelorum:
Salve, radix, salve, porta
Ex qua mundo lux est orta.

Gaude, Virgo gloriosa,
Super omnes speciosa,
Vale, o valde decora,
Et pro nobis Christum exora.

And in English:

Hail, O Queen of Heaven.
Hail, O Lady of Angels
Hail! thou root, hail! thou gate
From whom unto the world a light has arisen:

Rejoice, O glorious Virgin,
Lovely beyond all others,
Farewell, most beautiful maiden,
And pray for us to Christ.