Pope Leo XIV calls on Christian communities to pray the Rosary for peace in October

Pope Leo XIV has asked all Christian communities to pray the Rosary during October for peace among peoples in conflict. He made the appeal on Sunday, September 27, at the end of Mass at the Shrine of Lourdes in France, during his apostolic journey to the country.

The pope said the request came from the depths of his heart, especially in a place where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette holding the rosary in her hands. "That is why today I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy rosary during the coming month of October," he said. He stressed the importance of that prayer given the gravity of the current armed conflicts.

Acts of penance and commitment to reconciliation

Along with the Rosary, Leo XIV asked believers to add "concrete acts of penance and mercy" and to commit themselves to dialogue and reconciliation. He also described the Angelus as a "simple and magnificent prayer" that helps people live according to God's will, following the example of the Virgin Mary.

The pope thanked those who attended the Mass and those who followed it through the media, with a special mention of the sick.

"One Million Children Praying the Rosary"

On October 1, large numbers of children are expected to gather at the Vatican to pray the Rosary for peace as part of the initiative "One Million Children Praying the Rosary," run by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need. The gathering will open a worldwide week of prayer that ends on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.