Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV joined about 1,300 people, including around 700 children, in praying the Rosary for peace at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens on October 1. The gathering marked the beginning of a week of prayer for peace involving children and families around the world.
The Vatican prayer was part of the Aid to the Church in Need initiative called “One Million Children Praying the Rosary”. Children from parishes and schools across Rome gathered with the Pope as millions of children and others around the world were invited to pray for an end to violence and for peace.
The Rosary was prayed in five languages to reflect the international nature of the initiative. The five decades were recited in Italian, Spanish, Urdu, German and Arabic.
The weeklong initiative runs from October 1 to 7 and focuses on the suffering and hopes of people affected by conflict and persecution. The prayers include intentions for the children of Ukraine and victims of war, families in Lebanon, Syria and the Holy Land, persecuted Christians in Pakistan and elsewhere, reconciliation in South Sudan, and families in Cuba and Venezuela.
Before the Rosary began, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, said the initiative gives children an opportunity to discover that, together with Mary, they can bring the suffering of the world to Jesus.
He also highlighted the importance of the voices of children, saying that their trust and confidence have a special place in the heart of God. He called for fear and hatred not to have the final word as people around the world join in prayer during the week.
Pope Leo XIV told the children that they were asking Jesus and Mary for a special gift, peace for all children, especially those living in countries affected by war.
The Pope described the Rosary as a simple prayer that everyone can pray. He also pointed to the flowers offered by the children during the prayer as a sign of love.
Pope Leo encouraged the children to reflect on important moments in the life of Jesus, including his baptism in the Jordan, the wedding at Cana, his proclamation of the Kingdom of God, the Transfiguration and the institution of the Eucharist in the Upper Room.
He urged the children to remember these moments and to thank Jesus for the gifts they represent. He also encouraged them to pray together with confidence for peace.
The Pope noted that the prayer in the Vatican Gardens was part of a much larger worldwide effort. About one million voices were expected to join the Rosary, representing millions of prayers offered in different languages across the world.
Pope Leo also reminded the children that prayer should be accompanied by good actions and acts of love. He encouraged them to put this into practice at home, at school, in catechism classes, with their parents and while playing.
“Prayers must also be accompanied by good deeds and acts of love,” the Pope said. “That is how peace grows.”