As he prays the Angelus in Lourdes, France, Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to pray the Holy Rosary for the intention of peace in the world and an end to conflict.
By Devin Watkins
27/09/2026
https://www.vaticannews.va
Concluding Mass in Lourdes, on the third day of his Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV launched an appeal that he said was “particularly close to my heart, here in this place.”
Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette in the Grotto of Lourdes with a Rosary and guided her in prayer, the Pope said he hopes all Christians will pray the Rosary especially during the month of October.
He called for them to pray the Rosary “with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict.”
“Let us accompany this prayer with concrete acts of penance and mercy, committing ourselves always to fostering dialogue and reconciliation,” he said.
Read the full text of Pope Leo’s appeal here
Praying the Rosary together
After he returns to the Vatican, many children will gather on October 1 in the Vatican to pray the Rosary together for peace, at 5:00 p.m. at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens.
Between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes in Rome are expected to attend. They will pray with Pope Leo XIV, joining spiritually with children, families, schools, and Christian communities around the world as part of the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative, promoted by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The Rosary prayer will mark the beginning of a worldwide week of prayer culminating on October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.
