Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has issued a heartfelt appeal to Catholics around the globe, urging the faithful to pray the Rosary daily throughout the month of October as a powerful plea for peace in a world marred by conflict and violence. The Pontiff’s call comes ahead of a special Rosary gathering at St. Peter’s Square on October 11, 2025, marking a key event in the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality.
Speaking at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo XIV emphasized the spiritual significance of the Rosary, especially during October, the month dedicated by the Church to the Holy Rosary. “I invite everyone, each day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace personally, in the family, and in community,” he said, stressing that even small acts of prayer can bring profound spiritual impact.
The Pope announced that Catholics in Rome will come together in St. Peter’s Square on October 11 at 6:00 PM for a communal Rosary prayer, a symbolic gesture uniting believers in invoking God’s gift of peace. Additionally, Vatican employees are encouraged to participate by praying the Rosary daily at 7:00 PM inside St. Peter’s Basilica throughout the month.
In his address to Portuguese pilgrims, Pope Leo XIV reflected on the “ruins wrought by murderous hatred” and called upon Christians to embody and share the love of Jesus, which illuminates humanity and uplifts the downtrodden. The Rosary for Peace, he noted, serves as a spiritual response to the conflicts and divisions afflicting communities worldwide.
The October 11 event holds special significance, coinciding with the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality and the 63rd anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, convened by Pope St. John XXIII in 1962. Through this global initiative, Pope Leo XIV aims to inspire Catholics to unite in prayer, fostering hope, reconciliation, and a renewed commitment to peace across nations.
By calling the faithful to daily devotion, the Pope underlines the transformative power of prayer, emphasizing that even amid turmoil, the Rosary remains a beacon of light, faith, and harmony for humanity.