Lourdes: Pope Leo XIV has urged Christians around the world to pray the Holy Rosary during October for peace and an end to wars and conflicts.
The Pope appealed on September 27 as he concluded Mass in Lourdes during the third day of his Apostolic Journey to France. He said the intention was particularly close to his heart in Lourdes, where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette and encouraged her to pray the Rosary.
Pope Leo invited Christians to pray the Rosary especially during October, asking that wars may end and peace be established among peoples affected by conflict. He also called for prayer to be accompanied by concrete acts of penance and mercy, as well as efforts to promote dialogue and reconciliation.
The appeal will be followed by a gathering of children in the Vatican on October 1. Between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes in Rome are expected to join Pope Leo for the Rosary at 5 p.m. at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens.
The children will pray in communion with children, families, schools and Christian communities around the world as part of the One Million Children Praying the Rosary initiative promoted by Aid to the Church in Need.
The Vatican gathering will begin a worldwide week of prayer that will conclude on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
On the evening of September 27, Pope Leo also joined thousands of pilgrims for the traditional torchlit Rosary procession at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. The procession began at the Grotto of Massabielle, where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette.
The Pope walked among bishops, priests, shrine volunteers, families and other pilgrims as the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes led the procession. Thousands of faithful followed while praying the Rosary and carrying candles. Some pilgrims knelt, while others joined the prayer from wheelchairs or from seats along the route.
During the procession, Pope Leo spoke about the hope that guides Christians through suffering. He said the light of hope does not abandon people as they journey through life and pointed to the presence of the risen Christ amid human suffering.
Referring to the words of St. Paul, the Pope reminded those gathered in Lourdes that present suffering cannot be compared with the glory that is to be revealed.