Pope Leo XIV to pray rosary with 700 children at 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 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.

Children from schools and parishes in Rome will join the pope to begin a global week of prayer that runs until October 7. For the first time, the campaign will span an entire week to allow families, schools, and religious communities worldwide to participate on a day that suits them.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of Aid to the Church in Need International and prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, said the campaign is inspired by the message of Fatima. He noted that the Immaculate Heart of Mary serves as a model of faith, love, and prayer.

The initiative seeks to unite prayer for peace among communities facing war, poverty, or instability. Participation is planned globally, including the Tsimané community in the Bolivian Amazon, several parishes in Sudan, and St. Christopher’s Parish in the Archdiocese of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.