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Pope Leo XIV Joins Children in Praying Rosary for Peace

7:03 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Pope Leo XIV joined hundreds of children in Rome to pray the Rosary for peace, marking the start of a global week of prayer.

Pope Leo XIV joined hundreds of children in Rome on October 1 to pray the Rosary for peace, marking the start of a global week of prayer organized by the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

The gathering at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens began at 5pm local time, with Pope Leo XIV joining later to pray with the children.

The “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative, which began in Venezuela in 2005, has grown into a worldwide prayer movement involving children, families, parishes, schools, and Church groups on every continent.

This year, the campaign has expanded to include World Rosary Day, further widening the international call to prayer.

The week of prayer will culminate on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Pope Leo XIV's involvement underscores his commitment to fostering peace and unity among the world's children.

Children from schools and parishes across Rome gathered to pray in spiritual union with youngsters around the world, united in an appeal for peace and unity.

The initiative is organized in collaboration with the Shrine of Fátima, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, and the World Apostolate of Fátima.

Sister Patricia Alejandra Botello López from the Tsimané Indigenous community in the Bolivian Amazon said they will pray in both their local language and Spanish.

Registration helps to make visible the extraordinary worldwide chain of prayer and to show how children and communities from different countries and continents are united in the same intention for peace.

Pope Leo XIV has also called for international solidarity with Somalia, citing ongoing violence and extreme weather that are compounding an already severe humanitarian crisis.

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• The gathering will begin at 5pm local time, with Pope Leo XIV joining the youngsters later to pray the Rosary.
• The “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative began in Venezuela in 2005 and has since grown into a worldwide prayer movement involving children, families, parishes, schools and Church groups on every continent.
• POPE LEO XIV will join hundreds of youngsters in Rome as one million children around the world unite to pray the Rosary for peace.
• Between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes across Rome are expected to gather at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens on 1st October for the launch of the worldwide “ One Million Children Praying the Rosary for Peace in the World ” campaign.
• Together with the Holy Father, the children in Rome will pray in spiritual union with youngsters around the world, united in an appeal for peace and unity.
• The extended campaign will allow dioceses, parishes, schools, communities and families on different continents to choose the day best suited to their circumstances, while remaining united in the same intention of prayer for peace and unity.
• In another first for the initiative, World Rosary Day will join the campaign, further widening the international call to prayer.
• The week will culminate on 7th October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
• The Pope’s appeal comes in the immediate context of this year’s ACN initiative.
• ACN had invited the Holy Father to join children in praying the Rosary for peace and unity and had also proposed bringing this appeal for prayer to the wider Church.
• The worldwide ACN campaign will take place from October 1 to 7, culminating on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
• Schools, parishes, families, dioceses and prayer groups across the world are invited to take part.

What's still developing

• Thus the Pope will lead the way in fulfilling an appeal he has reiterated for this month of the Rosary.
• It was here that the Immaculate Virgin appeared to Saint Bernadette with the rosary and, as it were, guided her in prayer.
• For this reason, today I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy Rosary throughout the coming month of October, with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict.
• 26, the sanctuary covered the mosaics of Father Marko Rupnik, the spokesman of the sanctuary confirmed to OSV News, sharing pictures of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary with mosaics entirely covered.
• 18 — displayed on the front wall of the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary, one of three basilicas on the sanctuary’s grounds.
• They portray the luminous mysteries of the rosary that St.
• During that week, any diocese, parish, religious community, school, or family anywhere in the world can participate.
• ‘The Holy Rosary Crusade is a vigorous campaign for the spiritual and cultural renewal of our people, families and nation.’ While tobacco remains as risky as ever and its use is declining nationwide, some young Catholics are showing interest in its social and cultural place.
• ‘The Holy Rosary Crusade is a vigorous campaign for the spiritual and cultural renewal of our people, families and nation.’ In his first address to the German bishops’ plenary, Archbishop Hubertus van Megen said that no local Church outranks another.

Sources

• Aciafricalink
• Acnuklink
• Churchinneedlink
• Ewtnnewslink
• Ewtnvaticanlink
• Ncregisterlink
• Warpbeatlink
• aleteia.orglink
• OSV Newslink
• Qazinformlink
• Catholicsunlink
• Americamagazinelink
• Aleteialink
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Joins Children in Praying Rosary for Peace link
• WarpBeat — background on Pope Leo XIV Urges Europe to Reject Nationalism and Embrace Peace link
• Totus Catholica — video link