Coinciding with the start of hostilities in Gaza Strip namely October 7, 2023, a global prayer initiated and led by the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be launched  with one million children will to pray the rosary for peace in the Holy Land and in the entire world. This initiative is inspired by St. Padre Pio’s vision of children changing the world through prayer as the power of children’s prayer serves as a source of hope and change in the world politics, and helps restore brotherly relations among all people of the world. St. Padre Pio, believed that “when one million children pray the Rosary, the world will change.” This campaign has grown into a significant spiritual movement, drawing the participation from schools, parishes, and families across the five continents.

These massive prayers mark the 20th edition of its One Million Children Praying the Rosary campaign, whose purpose this year is to pray “for peace and unity in a world wounded by division, conflict, and suffering.” Furthermore, this initiative aims at focusing attention on parts of the world where peoples experience difficulties in view of the prevailing wars and conflicts that wreak havoc on all prospects of life, with hopes for bringing about assurances for a promising future. With a million children offering prayers for peace, they will be joined by other millions of people in various parts of the world who raise their hand to the Lord of Peace “to rain down His peace on the world” and instill justice.

President of ACN Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, says in this regard, “The Rosary is highly valued by God, and praying it is more necessary than ever, for two reasons: firstly, because the Mother of God asked for it specifically in the apparitions that have been approved by the Church!  and secondly, because it is part of the experience of the Church, and of many of its saints, as confirmed by the Magisterium and in keeping with the sensitivity of our Christian faith.” These prayers are intended to entrust to the Almighty Lord, through the powerful intercession of Blessed Mother, all the places and peoples who cannot live in peace.

With the children’s prayers for peace, it is hoped that the pleas rising to Heavens will inspire world leaders who hold the reins of decision-making relevant to the installment of peace and to adopt all necessary measures designed to expeditiously set the groundwork for establishing non-belligerent relations  among nations so that  “nations will not take up the sword against other nations".  These prayers will mark a vociferous call for undertaking immediate actions to restore global peace at a time when peoples of the world may jointly work for the prosperity  and advancement of humanity.

Pope Francis had earlier repeatedly led the recitation of a Rosary for Peace and prayed that violence and hatred may be extinguished from human hearts. He said in this regard, “Transform the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the din of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that brews in the heart of humanity, and inspire projects for peace in the actions of those who govern nations.”

In his prayer to invoke peace, Pope Francis’ prayer says:

“O Mary, our Mother, we come again here before you. You know the sorrows and struggles that weigh heavily on our hearts in this hour. We lift our gaze to you, immerse ourselves in your eyes, and entrust ourselves to your heart.

You, too, O Mother, have faced difficult trials and human fears, but you were courageous and bold. You entrusted everything to God, responded to Him with love, and offered yourself without reservation. As the intrepid Woman of Charity, you hurried to help Elizabeth, promptly addressing the needs of the couple during the Wedding at Cana; with steadfastness of heart, on Calvary you illuminated the night of sorrow with the Easter hope. Finally, with maternal tenderness, you gave courage to the frightened disciples in the Upper Room and, with them, welcomed the gift of the Spirit.

“And now we beseech you: heed our cry! We have need of your loving gaze that invites us to trust in your Son, Jesus. You who are ready to embrace our sorrows, fly to our aid in these times oppressed by injustices and devastated by wars, wipe the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, awaken us from the stupor that has darkened our path, and disarm our hearts from the weapons of violence, so that the prophecy of Isaiah may quickly be fulfilled: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not take up sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” (Isaiah 2:4)

"Turn your maternal gaze upon the human family, which has lost the joy of peace and the sense of fraternity. Intercede for our world in danger, so that it may cherish life and reject war, care for those who suffer, the poor, the defenseless, the sick, and the afflicted, and protect our Common Home.

“We invoke you for the mercy of God, O Queen of Peace! Transform the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the din of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that brews in the heart of humanity, and inspire projects for peace in the actions of those who govern nations.

“O Queen of the Holy Rosary, untie the knots of selfishness and disperse the dark clouds of evil. Fill us with your tenderness, uplift us with your caring hand, and grant us your maternal caress, which makes us hope in the advent of a new humanity where “… the wilderness becomes a garden land and the garden land seems as common as forest. Then judgment will dwell in the wilderness and justice abide in the garden land. The work of justice will be peace…'.” (Isaiah 32:15-17)

It is important for world peoples to join the children in their upcoming prayer for peace, hoping that the gates of Heaven will open and the Lord of Peace will rain down peace on the entire humanity by replacing hatred with love and wars with peace. Wars have driven people into a state of desperation, hopelessness, and a loss of all tenets for an honorable life including good health, education, stable economic progress, and a promising future, so that all peoples may breathe in freedom and work hand-in-hand for productive and peaceful societies that provide assurances for a life associated with dignity.