Pope Francis calls for daily Rosary prayers to promote global peace

Pope Francis has called for the month of October to be dedicated to daily Rosary prayers to seek global peace and the cessation of wars. During the midday Angelus, the Pope praised children participating in the ‘A Million Children Praying the Rosary’ initiative, organized by Aid to the Church in Need.

This global initiative encourages prayer for various regions facing conflict, including the Holy Land, Syria, Lebanon, Pakistan, Venezuela, Cuba, South Sudan, and Ukraine. The Vatican event featured prayers in multiple languages, such as Arabic and Urdu, to reflect these specific intentions.

Historical context highlights the long-standing tradition of the Rosary as a spiritual tool during times of crisis. This includes the teachings of Pope Leo XIII, known as the ‘Pope of the Rosary,’ who issued several encyclicals urging the devotion, as well as historical connections to the Battle of Lepanto and the messages of Our Lady of Fatima.