The Assumption of the Virgin Mary is a Christian belief that asserts that the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, was taken up into heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. This event is celebrated by many Christians, particularly within the Catholic Church, on August 15 each year. The doctrine emphasizes Mary's special role in salvation history and her purity. While the Bible does not explicitly mention the Assumption, it is rooted in tradition and has been affirmed by various Church teachings over the centuries, including the declaration of the dogma by Pope Pius XII in 1950.