Pope urges Catholics to pray the Rosary for end to pandemic

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Source: Vatican News

Pope Francis has invited Catholics and Marian Shrines around the world to dedicate the month of May to a marathon of prayer for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic. The initiative involves 30 Marian Shrines around the world.

It takes place under the theme "The whole Church was fervently praying to God," which recalls a verse in the Book of Acts (12:5).

"The initiative will involve all the Shrines of the world in a special way, so that they might encourage the faithful, families, and communities to recite the Rosary to pray for an end to the pandemic," read a statement released by the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization.

Pope Francis will open the Marian month of prayer on 1 May with a Rosary broadcast across Vatican Media's platforms.

Each day will see Vatican News broadcast the recitation of the Rosary at 6 PM Rome time from the various Shines taking part in the initiative.

The Pope will also close the initiative on 31 May with another specially-broadcast Rosary.

In March 2020 Pope Francis led the world in prayer during that difficult time, celebrating a live-streamed, daily Mass on Casa Santa Marta. After more than a year, and with the world still in the grips of the pandemic, the Pope and the Church around the world are once again leading the way in imploring God for an end to the suffering which so many people are forced to bear.

These 30 Shrines, around the world, have been chosen to lead the Marian prayer each during one day of the month: Our Lady of Walsingham in England, Jesus the Saviour and Mother Mary in Nigeria; Our Lady of Częstochowa in Poland; Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth; Blessed Virgin of the Rosary in South Korea; Our Lady Aparecida in Brazil; Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in the Philippines; Our Lady of Lujan in Argentina; Holy House of Loreto in Italy; Our Lady of Knock in Ireland; Virgin of the Poor at Banneux in Belgium; Notre Dame d'Afrique in Algeria; Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in Portugal; Our Lady of Health in India; Our Lady Queen of Peace at Medjugorje in Bosnia; St Mary's Cathedral in Australia; Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in the United States; Our Lady of Lourdes in France; Meryem Ana in Turkey; Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre in Cuba; Our Lady of Nagasaki in Japan; Nuestra Señora de Montserrat in Spain; Notre Dame du Cap in Canada; National Shrine Our Lady Ta' Pinu in Malta; Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Mexico; Mother of God in Zarvantysia in Ukraine; Black Madonna of Altotting in Germany; Our Lady of Lebanon - in Lebanon; Blessed Virgin of the Holy Rosary of Pompeii in Italy.

A short liturgical guide has been prepared that provides some useful suggestions for sharing this moment in one's own community. The guide in Italian, English and Spanish can be downloaded from the website of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization: www.pcpne.va/content/pcpne/en.html