Pope, with Ukrainian families, to lead rosary for peace May 31 May 26, 2022By Catholic News Service Catholic News Service Filed Under: News, Vatican, War in Ukraine, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis and Ukrainian families in Rome will gather May 31 before a statue of Mary, Queen of Peace, to recite the rosary for peace in Ukraine and in other places at war. Pope Benedict XV had the statue placed in Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major in 1918 as a sign and pledge of people’s prayers for an end to World War I. “At the end of the Marian month, Pope Francis wants to offer a sign of hope to the world, which is suffering from the conflict in Ukraine and deeply wounded by the violence in the many theaters of active war” around the world, said an announcement from the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization. For the evening recitation of the rosary, the council said, Pope Francis will be joined not only by Ukrainian families, but also by members of the Scouts, young people who have recently received their first Communion or confirmation, Italian young adults belonging to a Marian prayer group, military chaplains and representatives of the three Queen of Peace parishes in Rome. The rosary will be livestreamed from Rome and shown in: the Cathedral of the Mother of God in Zarvanytsia, Ukraine; the Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance in Baghdad; the Melkite Cathedral of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, in Homs, Syria; and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia in Awali, Bahrain. The world’s most famous Marian shrines, including Our Lady of Czestochowa in Poland, Our Lady Lourdes in France, Our Lady of Knock in Ireland and Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico, also are expected to join in, the council said. Read More Vatican News Pope Leo XIV on Holy Thursday: Jesus teaches us how to love at the Last Supper ‘In this dark hour of history,’ do not shy away from your mission, pope says All Catholics share in Church’s mission, not just clergy, pope says Pope urges Catholics to pray for priests in crisis Cultural trends and technology threaten contemplation, Cardinal Roche says Pope Leo XIV to carry cross at all 14 stations of Colosseum Way of the Cross Copyright © 2022 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
