October is the month of the Rosary. Each year the Church invites us to rediscover this simple yet powerful prayer, which for centuries has accompanied the faith of believers and brought light in difficult times. This year, the appeal of Pope Leo XIV is especially urgent: pray the Rosary every day, asking God for the gift of peace.
In an age marked by wars, divisions, and uncertainty, the Pope's call resounds as a humble but firm cry: do not let hope be stolen from us. Let us return to the strength of prayer, let us return to Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Peace.
A Daily Invitation: The Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked that throughout October the faithful in every part of the world unite in this spiritual chain:
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Individually, as a quiet moment of dialogue with God.
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As families, so that prayer may be the bond of unity within the home.
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In community, in parishes, movements, and groups, as a visible sign of fraternity and witness before the world.
For those who live and serve in the Vatican, the Rosary will be prayed each evening at 7:00 PM in St. Peter's Basilica. Yet the invitation goes far beyond Rome: wherever we may be, we can join spiritually—at home, in parish churches, even in solitude. The Rosary is universal: it binds us to Mary and to one another.
October 11th: A Date That Speaks to the Heart
The central moment of this month of prayer will be Saturday, October 11th, at 6:00 PM, when the Pope will lead the Rosary in St. Peter's Square, during the Jubilee Vigil of Marian Spirituality.
This date is not chosen at random. October 11th marks the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council in 1962—a turning point that opened the Church to dialogue with the modern world and with other Christian communities. To pray the Rosary on this day is to remember that renewal and ask Mary once again to guide us toward unity and conversion.
The Pope has also asked that in every parish throughout the world, the Rosary be prayed on October 11th in communion with him. It will be as if one great chorus of prayer were rising to heaven: millions of believers on every continent, united in a single voice of supplication and hope.
A Pope Who Chooses Service
Pope Leo XIV has repeatedly emphasized that he does not wish to be known by titles: not "the theologian Pope," not "the communicator Pope," not even "the people's Pope." With humility and simplicity, he desires to be seen only as a servant, the first among equals, one who leads not from above but by walking alongside.
In the invitation to pray the Rosary, there is no desire for protagonism, but only the wish to place Christ at the center—Christ contemplated in the mysteries of his life, death, and resurrection. As the Pope himself has said: "I strip myself of myself; I become invisible." This act also carries a strong ecumenical meaning: the role of the Bishop of Rome, not as power to be exercised, but as service to be offered.
A Rosary That Builds Peace
Throughout history, the Rosary has been invoked in the most difficult of times. It has been prayed for the end of wars, for the liberation of peoples, for the conversion of hearts. Today, faced with new conflicts and global tensions, Leo XIV renews this conviction: peace begins with prayer.
Political agreements and diplomatic treaties alone are not enough. Without reconciled hearts, without communities rooted in prayer, peace remains fragile. By praying the Rosary, we are asking not only that weapons be silenced, but that God heal the inner and social wounds that divide nations and peoples.
A Call to All the Faithful
For this reason, the appeal is clear: let us respond to the Pope's call. Let us not allow October 11th to pass as just another date on the calendar. Let us prepare—in every parish, every community, every family. Let us organize prayer gatherings, vigils, parish meetings. Let us ensure that on that day the Rosary is prayed in every corner of the world, in communion with the Holy Father.
Great gestures are not necessary: fidelity to this humble prayer is enough. Each Hail Mary is a seed of peace, each Rosary a bridge cast over divisions.
Conclusion: Mary, Mother of Hope
The Rosary is the prayer of the little ones, of the humble, of those who know that strength does not lie in weapons or power, but in trusting God with faith. In this month of October, Pope Leo XIV invites us all to place ourselves under the mantle of Mary, Mother of Hope.
On October 11th, the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the whole Church will pray together. It will be a historic day—a day of unity, a day of peace. Let us join the Holy Father and let the humble voice of the Rosary resound from every parish, every family, every believer around the world.
Brothers and sisters, let us not miss this appointment. It is a moment of grace, a gift for the Church and for humanity. Mary awaits us: let us answer her call and, together with Pope Leo XIV, let us build a future of peace through the Rosary
Marco Baratto
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