14/10/2024, Author: Michael Kelly

Pope Francis has thrown his support behind a campaign by a Catholic charity to have children all over the world, including Ireland, to pray the Rosary for peace this Friday.

The Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) organises the campaign ‘One Million Children Praying the Rosary’ every October. However, the campaign has taken on an added dimension this year with prayers for peace in the Holy Land as well as Ukraine.

Speaking at his weekly Angelus address on Sunday in St Peter’s Square, Pope Francis commended the ACN prayer initiative. “Thanks to all the boys and girls who are participating,” he told pilgrims and visitors to Rome.

“Let us join with them and entrust to the intercession of Our Lady – today is the anniversary of her final apparition in Fatima – let us entrust to the intercession of Our Lady tormented Ukraine, Myanmar, Sudan and the other populations who suffer because of war and any form of violence and misery,” the Pontiff said.

Michael Kelly, Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland said he would encourage any school or parish to get their young people involved in the initiative.

“We were promoting the Rosary to the young people at the recent National Ploughing Championships,” he said, “and thy were very engaged around it – particularly given that the special intention is peace.

“Often we feel helpless in the midst of so much suffering in the world, particularly in the Holy Land, and I think children have a real empathy for other children who are suffering, and praying the Rosary for peace is something concrete we can do,” he said.

 ACN Ireland recently made a significant donation to Holy Family Parish in Gaza City, where around 450 Catholics have been living since the war started over a year ago. They are among the last remaining Christians in the Gaza Strip.