Pope Leo XIV to lead children in Rosary prayer for peace at the Vatican

One Million Children Praying the Rosary Pope Leo XIV Aid to the Church in Need global prayer campaign peace prayer

Pope Leo XIV will join between 700 and 1,000 children from various Roman schools and parishes to pray the Rosary for peace on October 1. The event will take place at 17:00 in the Lourdes Grotto within the Vatican Gardens.

This gathering marks the launch of the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” campaign, an initiative organized by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). For the first time, the campaign will span an entire week, from October 1 to October 7, allowing global communities to participate on days that suit their local pastoral needs. The week will conclude on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The movement, which originated in Venezuela in 2005, has grown into a global chain of prayer. Participants from diverse regions, including Sudan, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, and the Bolivian Amazon, will join the spiritual effort. The 2026 campaign is inspired by the message of Fatima, focusing on hope and unity amidst global challenges such as war, poverty, and violence.