Pope Leo XIV to pray Rosary for peace with hundreds of children at the Vatican

Pope Leo XIV will pray the Rosary for peace with 700 to 1,000 children on October 1 at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens. The children, coming from various schools and parishes in Rome, will participate in the event starting at 5:00 p.m.

The gathering marks the start of the One Million Children Praying the Rosary initiative, a campaign organized by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need. For the first time, the campaign will span an entire week from October 1 to October 7, the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. This extended format allows dioceses, parishes, schools, and families worldwide to choose a day to join the prayer for peace and unity.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of Aid to the Church in Need International and prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, noted that the campaign is inspired by the message of Fatima. The initiative serves as a sign of hope for people facing war, violence, and poverty.