Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has called on the faithful to turn to Mary in prayer during times of difficulty, renewing his appeal for people around the world to pray the Rosary for peace, especially throughout the month of October.
Speaking at the General Audience on Wednesday, the Pope described Mary as a source of comfort and a safe refuge for people facing suffering. He also highlighted her importance for a world affected by war and encouraged the faithful to seek her intercession through the Rosary.
The Pope made the appeal as the Church celebrated the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. From St Peter’s Square, he repeated the call for prayer that he had made during the previous Sunday’s Angelus and earlier during his visit to Lourdes on September 27.
During his visit to Lourdes, Pope Leo invited the faithful to pray the Rosary throughout October with the particular intention of an end to wars and peace among peoples affected by conflict.
He also stressed that prayer for peace should be accompanied by concrete acts of penance and mercy. The Pope encouraged people to promote dialogue and reconciliation as part of their commitment to peace.
The call was also highlighted during a Rosary gathering held on October 1 at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens. Around 1,300 people took part, including 700 children, praying the Marian prayer in five languages.
The participants joined in the plea, “Grant us peace,” as prayers were offered for children and people affected by conflicts around the world. The gathering was organised by the “A Million Children Pray the Rosary” initiative and coordinated by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need.
The initiative was inspired by the words of Padre Pio, who spoke of the potential impact of a million children praying the Rosary together.
At the General Audience, Pope Leo also addressed pilgrims from different parts of the world. Speaking to Portuguese speaking faithful, he referred to the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Aparecida, patroness of Brazil, which will be celebrated on October 12.
The Pope entrusted the pilgrims and their families to Mary’s maternal intercession and prayed that she would continue to watch over them.
Addressing Chinese speaking pilgrims, Pope Leo again presented Mary as a source of refuge and strength for those experiencing difficulty and suffering.
Through his renewed appeal during October, Pope Leo is encouraging the faithful to place their struggles and hopes before Mary in prayer, while also supporting the pursuit of peace through mercy, dialogue and reconciliation.