On Saturday 30th May 2026 at 7.00 pm (Rome time), the Sanctuary of Lourdes will join Pope Leo XIV in reciting the Holy Rosary from the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens. This great Marian prayer will be broadcast live and shared with shrines around the world that wish to participate in this Papal initiative.
In a letter addressed to the Rector of the Shrines, the Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelisation, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, emphasises that ‘at this historic moment, marked also by armed conflicts between different countries’, the Holy Father wishes to make ‘a gesture of solidarity’ towards all peoples afflicted by war, in order to ‘implore for the gift of peace’.
This initiative takes on particular significance in Lourdes, as the Sanctuary has just hosted the International Military Pilgrimage, whose theme was ‘Guardians of Peace’. In a world plagued by violence, division and uncertainty, Lourdes remains a place of fellowship, comfort and hope where people come together in prayer.
In communion with the Pope and the universal Church, pilgrims and the faithful are invited to participate spiritually in this recitation of the Rosary, entrusting to the Virgin Mary the victims of conflict, families in distress, and the future of nations.
The event will be broadcast live on the Vatican News website and on the Vatican’s official social media channels. The Sanctuary of Lourdes will also broadcast the event live on its digital channels to enable as many people as possible to take part in this time of prayer for peace.
At a time when war is ravaging many parts of the world, these moments of spiritual communion serve as a reminder of how prayer can become a symbol of unity and hope among peoples.
