Pope: Christians called to share Gospel of peace, even amid persecution

By Devin Watkins

For ten years, Catholics have gathered in Rimini, in northern Italy, on the 20th of each month, in the city’s main square, to pray the rosary for peace.

To mark the anniversary, Pope Francis sent a message, published Friday, to the Nazarate Committee for Persecuted Christians, which organizes the monthly rosary that has spread to many cities around the world.

In his message, the Pope thanked the Nazarat Committee for its attention to “brothers and sisters who live in lands affected by terrible conflicts.”

“Thank you for your testimony of benevolent charity, solidarity and above all for your union with the suffering of populations wounded by injustice, oppression, hatred and greed,” he said.

Good news of peace for a war-torn world

Pope Francis took the opportunity to encourage Christians around the world to bear witness to the Gospel message of peace.

“Today more than ever, humanity needs the Good News of peace, and every Christian is called to proclaim and share it.”

He expressed his hope that those who participate in the monthly prayer of the Rosary can “continue to be promoters of a culture of respect for all, of welcome and of an inclusive fraternity where everyone can taste the bread of communion and the joy of solidarity.”

Pope Francis concluded his message with an encouragement on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the public Rosary of Rimini.

“I invite you to invoke the help of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help, so that she may welcome us under her mantle and support us in times of trial. May she light in our hearts the light of hope to dare a future of serenity and harmony,” he said.

“Call to Humanity”

The Rimini Rosary initiative began in August 2014 following the expulsion of Christians from the Nineveh Plain in Iraq at the hands of the so-called Islamic State.

Entitled “Call to Humanity,” the prayer is offered to all persecuted people, Christian and non-Christian.

“This prayer is the affirmation of the sovereignty of Christ – who can do everything – over each of us,” reads a statement from the Nazarat Committee. “It is the beginning of our transformation. Prayer is the most powerful instrument to change history.”

Over the past ten years, the Nazarat initiative has raised tens of thousands of euros, which it has sent to help hundreds of vulnerable families, particularly in Syria and Iraq.

On August 20, the Bishop of Rimini, Nicolò Anselmi, will lead the prayer of the Rosary for the 10th anniversary in the main square of his city.