Pope Francis leads Rosary prayer for peace for ‘world in danger’

By Devin Watkins

“Transform the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the din of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that simmers in the hearts of humanity and inspire projects of peace in the actions of those who govern nations. »

Pope Francis made the plea for peace Sunday evening while reciting the rosary at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

He was joined by participants in the Synod on Synodality taking place this month at the Vatican.

Pope Francis leads the rosary for peace at Santa Maria Maggiore

“Wipe away the tears of those who cry”

In his prayer for peace, the Pope brought the sorrows and hopes of people at war to the Blessed Virgin Mary, seated at the feet of the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani.

“We lift our gaze to you, we look into your eyes and we trust in your heart,” he prayed, emphasizing that in her earthly life, Mary grew closer to those who suffered.

Pope Francis said humanity currently has a great need of his loving gaze, which calls us to trust in his Son, Jesus Christ.

“Fly to our aid in these times oppressed by injustice and devastated by wars,” he prayed. “Wipe the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, wake us from the stupor that has darkened our path and disarm our hearts from the weapons of violence.”

The Holy Father expressed concern that our world is in danger because we have lost “the joy of peace and the sense of fraternity.”

He prayed that humanity would learn to “cherish life and reject war, to care for the suffering, the poor, the defenseless, the sick and the afflicted, and to protect our common Home.”

In conclusion, Pope Francis asked Mary, Queen of the Rosary, to untie “the knots of selfishness and disperse the dark clouds of evil” and to fill us with her tenderness.

Pope Francis’ prayer to invoke peace

O Mary, our Mother, we return here before You. You know the sorrows and struggles that weigh heavily on our hearts in this hour. We raise our gaze to you, we look into your eyes and we confide in your heart.

You too, O Mother, have faced difficult trials and human fears, but you have been courageous and daring. You entrusted everything to God, you responded to Him with love and you offered yourself without reservation. As an intrepid Woman of Charity, you hastened to help Elisabeth, responding promptly to the needs of the couple during the Wedding at Cana; with firmness of heart, at Calvary you illuminated the night of sorrow with Easter hope. Finally, with maternal tenderness, you gave courage to the frightened disciples of the Cenacle and, with them, you welcomed the gift of the Spirit.

And now we beseech you: Hear our cry! We need your loving gaze which 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 injustice and devastated by wars, wipe the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, wake us up from the stupor that is is darkened. our path, and let us disarm our hearts from the weapons of violence, so that the prophecy of Isaiah may quickly be fulfilled: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall no more lift up sword against nation, neither shall they train for war” (Isaiah 2:4).

Turn your maternal gaze towards the human family, which has lost the joy of peace and the sense of fraternity. Intercede for our endangered world to cherish life and reject war, to care for the suffering, the poor, the defenseless, the sick and the afflicted, and to 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 smolders in the heart of humanity and inspire projects of 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, lift us up with your kind hand and grant us your maternal caress, which makes us hope for the advent of a new humanity where “… wild nature becomes a garden land and the garden land seems as common as the forest. Then judgment will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness will dwell in the garden. The work of righteousness shall be peace…” (Isaiah 32:15-17).

O Mother, Salus Populi Romanipray for us!