Prayer unites, humanizes, strengthens and purifies the heart.
A rosary in the Vatican for ‘peace for all the children in the world’
At the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens, 1,200 people—700 of whom are children—joined Pope Leo in praying the Rosary in five languages, offering up the Marian prayer for an end to violence around the world.
The event marked the beginning of the “One Million Children Praying the Rosary” initiative promoted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). Watch the video of the entire event here.
The children and gathering were led by Pope Leo in praying of the Luminous Mysteries from here.
PRAY WITH THE POPE
We join Pope Leo’s prayer intention for the month of August, inviting Catholics everywhere to pray ‘for evangelization in the city,’ so that the Lord may accompany the millions who seek meaning amid noise and haste.
Pray with the Pope here. Also click below.
Alternative way to Pray
The Divine Mercy Chaplet
This mixed vocal and voice presentation offers a musical meditation of the Chaplet. It is composed by singer-songwriter and Catholic priest, Robert Galea who is joined by performers Gary and Natasha Pinto.
Click the image below to find this Divine Mercy Chaplet on Apple Music. It can also be found on online formats eg Spotify and YouTube.
For the background on praying the Chaplet, scroll down this page to Monsignor Basil’s introductory guide from Divine Mercy Sunday 2026.
Opportunities to Pray will continue to be introduced here from time to time.
Remember to check back to this page!
HYMN TO PEACE
(Click the image to listen)
During the Holy Father’s visit to Algeria, at his meeting with the community in Algiers’ Basilica of Our Lady of Africa, a Hymn to Peace was sung. Specially composed by Muslims and Christians, its words resonate their meaning for our times:
Blessed are the Peacemakers
and Joyful are the Peacemakers
that create and build a world of Peace.
Prayer can move mountains
On 11 April 2026, people around the world joined the Holy Father in praying the Glorious mysteries of the Rosary, in person and remotely, with meditations from various Church Fathers, including St. Augustine of Hippo, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Ambrose of Milan. During the Rosary, faithful from different continents lit candles with the flame from the Lamp of Peace in Assisi, which burns perpetually at the tomb of St. Francis of Assisi.
Click here OR the image below to watch the entire Prayer Vigil for Peace at St Peter’s Basilica, with descriptions and translation in English.
In his reflection, Pope Leo spoke out strongly on the wars of our current times; the physical, moral and spiritual implications of actions of a warring mentality. Vatican News provides a full report here.
The Pope in that report notes that “prayer is an expression of (that) faith which, as Jesus reminded, moves mountains. Prayer is not “a refuge in which to hide from our responsibilities, nor an anesthetic to numb the pain provoked by so much injustice,” but rather is “the most selfless, universal and transformative response to death.”
He went on to observe that the Rosary, like other ancient forms of prayer, united the faithful this evening in its steady rhythm built on repetition, pointing out that peace gains ground in the same way, “word by word, deed by deed, just as a rock is hollowed out drop by drop, or fabric woven stitch by stitch.”
The Holy Father reminded that these are the slow rhythms of life, a sign of God’s patience.
“We must not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the pace of a world that does not know what it is chasing. Rather,” he suggested, “we must return to serving the rhythm of life, the harmony of creation and healing its wounds.”
A prayer to the Lord who conquered death without weapons or violence
The Pope said that all brothers and sisters of every language, people and nation are one family that weeps, hopes and rises again, and thus, he again called on that family to embrace the appeal of his predecessor Pope, Saint John Paul II, to declare together, “No more war, a journey with no return; no more war, a vicious cycle of grief and violence.”
WATCH AND PRAY FOR PEACE.
CLICK THE IMAGE.
Pray for Peace
Lord Jesus,
you conquered death without weapons or violence:
you shattered its power with the strength of peace.
Grant us your peace,
as you did to the women filled with doubt on Easter morning,
as you did to the disciples who were hiding in fear.
Send forth your Spirit,
the breath that gives life and reconciles,
that turns adversaries and enemies into brothers and sisters.
Inspire in us to trust in Mary, your mother,
who stood at the foot of your cross with a broken heart,
firm in the faith that you would rise again.
May the madness of war cease
and the Earth be cared for and cultivated by those who still
know how to bring forth, protect and love life.
Hear us, Lord of life!
Key Aspects of Divine Mercy
It highlights the second spring of grace, focussing on God’s love after Easter and offering complete remission of sins and punishment.
Origin
The feast, while rooted in the octave day of Easter, was officially established for the universal Church by Pope John Paul II in 2000, prompted by revelations to Sr Faustina.
Promises
Jesus told Sr Faustina that anyone going to Confession and receiving Holy Communion on this day would obtain total forgiveness of sins and punishment.
Conditions to receive the graces
Celebrate the feast on the Sunday after Easter.
Go to Confession on the day or near the day.
Receive Holy Communion.
Place full trust in God’s mercy.
Show mercy to others.
Venerate the Divine Mercy image and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet.
Praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet
On the large beads: Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.
On the small beads: For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.
Conclude (repeat 3 times): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.