Pope Leo XIV invites Christians to pray the Rosary for peace
October is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Rosary, inviting Catholics to rediscover this beautiful prayer and, with Mary, to contemplate the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus.
At the heart of the month is the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 October. Its history takes us back to one of the most significant events in the history of the Rosary: the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
From Lepanto to the Rosary
On 7 October 1571, the fleet of the Holy League encountered the Ottoman fleet at Lepanto, in the Gulf of Patras.
In the weeks leading up to the battle, Pope St Pius V called the faithful to pray the Rosary and to seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Christian victory was subsequently understood by Catholics in the context of these prayers and Mary’s intercession.
Following the victory, Pope St Pius V established a feast in honour of Our Lady of Victory on 7 October, the anniversary of the battle. The celebration was later associated more explicitly with the Rosary, and Pope Gregory XIII gave it the title Our Lady of the Rosary.
The connection between the Rosary and 7 October was strengthened further over the centuries, and in 1716 Pope Clement XI extended the celebration of the feast to the Universal Church.
Pope Leo XIII and the month of October
The special place of October in the life of the Church was particularly strengthened by Pope Leo XIII, who became one of the great promoters of the Rosary.
In 1883, Leo XIII dedicated the month of October to the Holy Rosary and encouraged Catholics to pray it with renewed devotion. During his pontificate, he wrote numerous documents about the Rosary, repeatedly encouraging the faithful to turn to this prayer for the needs of the Church and the world.
For Leo XIII, the Rosary was much more than the repetition of familiar prayers. It was a way of contemplating the mysteries of Christ with Mary.
As we pray the Rosary, the familiar words of the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be accompany our meditation on the great events of our salvation: the birth of Christ, his ministry, his Passion and death, his Resurrection and his glory.
Mary leads us towards her Son.
Pope Leo XIV: a call to pray for peace
The invitation to pray the Rosary takes on a particular significance this October.
On 27 September 2026, during his Apostolic Journey to France, Pope Leo XIV appealed to Christians to pray the Holy Rosary throughout October for peace in the world.
Speaking after Mass at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Pope recalled the connection between Lourdes and the Rosary, noting that the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Bernadette with a Rosary and guided her in prayer.
He invited Christians to pray the Rosary “with the particular intention that wars may cease and that peace may be established among peoples in conflict.” He also encouraged the faithful to accompany their prayer with concrete acts of penance and mercy, and with a commitment to dialogue and reconciliation.
The Pope’s appeal provides a timely reminder that the Rosary is not simply a prayer for private intentions. It can become a prayer of the whole Church for a wounded world.
On 1 October, Pope Leo XIV is also due to join hundreds of children from schools and parishes in Rome in praying the Rosary for peace at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens. The prayer will mark the beginning of a worldwide week of prayer leading up to the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on 7 October.
A prayer for our world
The Rosary remains a remarkably simple prayer, yet one capable of accompanying us through every season of life.
It can be prayed alone or together with others; in church, at home, while travelling or simply in a quiet moment during the day. Its gentle rhythm gives us space to become still, to listen and to place ourselves in the presence of God.
This October, we are invited to bring before the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, all those who need our prayers.
We can pray:
- for peace in places affected by war and conflict;
- for the Church, that she may faithfully proclaim the Gospel;
- for families, especially those experiencing difficulty or suffering;
- for the sick, lonely and vulnerable;
- for children and young people, that they may encounter Christ;
- for vocations to marriage, priesthood and religious life;
- for our parishes and communities, that they may grow in faith, hope and charity;
- and for our own intentions, entrusting them confidently to God’s loving care.
Pope Leo XIV’s appeal also reminds us that prayer and Christian action belong together. Alongside our prayers for peace, we can seek opportunities for mercy, reconciliation, generosity and encounter with those around us.
Rediscover the Rosary this October
Perhaps the month of October is an opportunity to return to a prayer that has been part of your life for many years.
Perhaps you have never prayed the Rosary before.
You do not need to know everything before you begin. You might simply start with one decade each day, gradually becoming familiar with the prayers and mysteries.
For parishes, October can also be an opportunity to gather people together around this treasured Catholic prayer, whether before Mass, during Eucharistic Adoration, in a parish Rosary group or in the home.
As we pray, we join countless generations of Christians who have turned to Mary and asked her to pray for us, trusting that she always leads us towards her Son.
This October, let us respond to Pope Leo XIV’s invitation and make the Rosary a prayer for peace – in our homes, in our parishes and throughout our Diocese.
May our prayer embrace all those caught up in war and conflict, those who suffer because of violence, and all who work for reconciliation and peace.
And may the Rosary lead us ever more deeply into the heart of Christ, the source of our hope and our peace.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for us.
