By Kielce Gussie
While one million children around the world offered up the Rosary for peace, about 1,300 of those voices were coming from the Vatican Gardens on the first day of the month dedicated to the Rosary—Oct 1. Children from parishes and schools around Rome gathered at the Grotto of Lourdes with Pope Leo XIV to kick off the Aid to the Church in Need initiative “One Million Children Praying the Rosary”.
Representing the global dimension of this initiative, each of the five decades was recited in a different language: Italian, Spanish, Urdu, German, and Arabic.
This rosary starts a weeklong initiative drawing attention to “the wounds and hopes of peoples” globally—the children of Ukraine and all the victims of war; families in Lebanon, Syria, and the Holy Land; persecuted Christians in Pakistan and around the world; reconciliation in South Sudan; and families in Cuba and Venezuela.
Before reciting the Marian prayer, Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, explained that this initiative is an invitation for children to discover that “together with Mary, they can bring the sufferings of the world to Jesus.”
“It is precisely the voices of the youngest, who entrust themselves to him with confidence, that find a special welcome in the heart of God,” he stressed. Throughout the week—Oct 1-7—communities around the world, separated by language and distance, will be united in their prayer for peace.
“As we contemplate the risen Christ, we ask that fear and hatred may not have the final word,” Cardinal Koch said.
A special gift
In his message, Pope Leo XIV stressed the importance of this initiative and his joy at being present with the children, parents, and priests.
Encouraging the children, the Pope reminded them that they are asking Jesus and Mary for “a special gift: peace for all the children of the world, especially those who live in places where there is war, in so many countries around the world.”
He described the rosary as a “simple prayer that everyone can pray” and called the flowers the children had offered at the beginning of each decade as a sign of love.
The Pope urged them to think about Jesus at the important moments of his life, “when he brought light and peace to many people.” These included Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan, turning water in wine at the wedding of Cana, proclaiming the Kingdom of God, his Transfiguration, and when he instituted the Eucharist in the Upper Room.
Pope Leo urged the children never to forget and be thankful for these moments when Jesus “gave us wonderful gifts” and to “ask him with confidence, all united: Give us peace”.
Fifty million ‘Hail Marys’
Concluding his message to the children and families, the Pope highlighted how those present in the Vatican Gardens throughout this week (Oct 1-7) are not the only ones praying. About one million voices are joining them in this prayer.
“Think about it”, Pope Leo stressed: “Fifty million ‘Hail Marys’ rising to Heaven from every part of the world and in every language, asking for peace, joining together like one enormous Rosary, embracing all the continents, peoples, and nations of the world.”
By praying the rosary together at the Grotto of Lourdes, he reminded everyone present that they are committing themselves to behaving well wherever they are: at home, school, in catechism class, with their parents, and when they play.
“Prayers must also be accompanied by good deeds and acts of love,” Pope Leo explained. “That is how peace grows.” – Vatican News
