Pope Francis has given his public support to the rosary campaign being organized by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)- ‘One Million Children Praying the Rosary’, calling on children around the world to pray for an end to the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking after the Angelus on Sunday, 11th October the Holy Father urged pilgrims assembled in Saint Peter’s Square, Rome, to support the prayer initiative.
He said: “Next Sunday, 18th October, the Aid to the Church in Need foundation promotes the ‘One Million Children Praying the Rosary’ campaign for unity and peace.
“I encourage this beautiful event that involves children throughout the world, who will pray especially for critical situations caused by the pandemic.”
ACN’s “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative invites young people to pray the devotion on Sunday, 18th October – or on the next day if it easier for them to pray together at school.
Pope Francis’s message of support comes after a letter by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, ACN’s International President, and the charity’s International Ecclesiastical Assistant, Father Martin Barta, which stressed the need to pray during the coronavirus pandemic.
They wrote: “With brutal clarity, the virus has brought home to us our vulnerability, frailty and mortality” adding that God “is urging us to pray constantly and to trust in him in all circumstances”.
“May this joint worldwide rosary prayer initiative fill us all with new courage and confidence in God’s loving protection, which he wishes to bestow on us through his holy Mother.”
