Pope Leo XIV joined hundreds of children at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens on Thursday, 1 October, to pray the Rosary for peace, launching a global week of prayer as part of “One Million Children Praying the Rosary”, an international initiative promoted by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). “I am truly happy to be with you,” said the Holy Father as he addressed the children. He explicitly thanked ACN “for having promoted this initiative and for the great work it does”, before inviting those present to ask together for a special gift: “peace for all the children of the world, especially for those who live where there is war”. The campaign runs from 1 to 7 October and unites children, families, schools, parishes, and communities around the world in a single prayer.
One million children joined with Pope Leo XIV worldwide
The Holy Father made it clear to the children gathered in Rome that this initiative possesses a truly global scope:
“This evening and during these days, it is not just us praying. Throughout the world, a million children are praying with us. A million!”
Pope Leo XIV invited them to imagine “fifty million Hail Marys” rising to heaven “from everywhere and in all the languages of the earth”, united like a great Rosary crown encompassing continents, peoples, and nations. By 12:11 UTC on 1 October, ACN’s online platform had recorded 313,938 registered prayers from 94 countries, an figure that excludes many parishes and families participating offline in areas with limited internet access. Recorded participation includes countries as diverse as Finland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Japan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Poland, India, the Philippines, and Ukraine.
Cardinal Kurt Koch’s address and call to action
Upon receiving the Holy Father, Cardinal Kurt Koch recalled that the initiative invites children to discover that they too can bring to Jesus, alongside Mary, “the sufferings of the world”. Videos and testimonies brought children closer to realities in Ukraine, Syria, Lebanon, the Holy Land, Pakistan, South Sudan, Venezuela, and Cuba. Cardinal Koch emphasized:
“Languages and distances are different, but the hope that unites us is one”.
“Prayer also educates our hearts towards peace, forgiveness, and caring for others”.
The event featured musical animation by KISI—including children from four countries—as well as a choir and musicians from the Shalom Community. Finally, Pope Leo XIV insisted that prayer must have a concrete reflection in daily life:
“Prayers must always be accompanied by good deeds, by acts of love. This is how peace grows!”
The Rosary week of prayer for peace will continue worldwide until 7 October.
