As the Church prepares to honor the Holy Rosary during October, Pope Leo XIV is calling the faithful to turn to Mary in a special way for the gift of peace. Speaking at his Wednesday General Audience, the Holy Father urged Catholics around the world to unite in daily prayer.
“I invite everyone, each day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace—personally, in the family, and in community,” Pope Leo said, according to Vatican News.
A Global Invitation to Prayer
The Pope emphasized that this call is not only for those able to travel to Rome, but for every Catholic household. He specifically encouraged families and parishes to take up the Rosary as a daily practice throughout October, reminding the faithful that prayer is the most powerful response to violence and conflict.
In Rome, the month will be marked by two special gatherings. On October 11, the faithful will assemble in St. Peter’s Square at 6:00 PM to pray the Rosary as part of the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality. The original image of Our Lady of Fatima will be present, linking the moment to one of the Church’s most beloved Marian devotions. That date also coincides with the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council in 1962, highlighting the Council’s enduring call for peace and renewal in the Church.
Pope Leo also announced that Vatican employees will be invited to pray the Rosary daily at 7:00 PM in St. Peter’s Basilica throughout October.
A Plea Amid Conflict
In his greetings to Portuguese pilgrims, the Pope expressed sorrow for the destruction caused by hatred and violence. He lamented “the ruins wrought by murderous hatred” and invited Christians to bear witness to Christ’s love, which “illumines and lifts up humanity.”
By linking the Rosary for Peace to the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, Pope Leo is reminding the Church that the Mother of God has always been a source of hope in dark times. Catholics are encouraged to join spiritually with those in Rome, whether in parish churches, schools, or within the home.
As October approaches, the Pope’s invitation offers a concrete way for the faithful to respond to global suffering, with the simple, powerful prayer of the Rosary.
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