In an atmosphere of intense prayer and recollection, Leo XIV presided over the recitation of the Holy Rosary for Peace this Roman evening of October 11 before the Our Lady of Fatima. In addition, there was Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament to the thousands of faithful who accompanied him in St. Peter's Square at night.
The framework of the Prayer Vigil The Jubilee of Marian Spirituality has been the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality, which has been joined by religious women and men who have participated in the Jubilee of Consecrated Life.
In terms of devotion and recollection, the moment was reminiscent of Pope Francis' historic prayer and Urbi et Orbi blessing in an empty St. Peter's Square in the rain to pray for the end of the AIDS pandemic by 2020. The difference is that on this occasion tens of thousands of faithful accompanied the Pope, and the reason for the prayer: peace in the world.
During the recitation of the mysteries of the Rosario the Hail Mary of Fatima was sung. At the end, the Litany was prayed with the Pope kneeling before Our Lady, whom he called Mother of the Church and of Hope.
May the gift of compassion reach us
At the Vigil of Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, the Pope began by saying that "we have gathered in prayer, tonight, together with Mary the Mother of Jesus, as the first Church of Jerusalem used to do (Ac 1,14). All united, persevering and with the same sentiment, we never tire of interceding for peace, a gift of God that must become our conquest and our commitment".
"Our gaze as believers looks to the Virgin Mary to guide us on our pilgrimage of hope," he continued, "contemplating her 'human and evangelical virtues. Her imitation constitutes the most authentic Marian devotion' (Cf. Second Vatican Council, Const. dogm. dogm. Lumen Gentium, 65.67)".
"Through her, the sorrowful, strong and faithful Woman, let us ask for the gift of compassion for every brother and sister who suffers, and for all creatures," the Pope said.
"Sheathe your sword."
After meditating on the words of the Virgin Mary, "Do whatever he tells you," Leo XIV turned his attention to the words of Jesus addressed to Peter in the Garden of Olives: "Put up your sword" (Jn 18:11).
The Pope has concretized that disarmed and disarming peace to which he has referred from day one. "It disarms the hand and, even before that, the heart. As I have already mentioned on other occasions, peace is unarmed and disarming. It is not deterrence, but fraternity; it is not ultimatums, but dialogue. It will not come as the fruit of victories over the enemy, but as the result of sowing justice and fearless forgiveness".
To the powerful and to each of us
"Sheathe the sword," he stressed,"is the word addressed to the powerful of the world, to those who guide the destiny of the people: have the audacity to disarm!
"And at the same time it is also addressed to each one of us, to make us more and more aware that we cannot kill for any idea, faith or politics. The first thing to disarm is the heart, because if there is no peace in us, we will not give peace."
Looking with a different point of view
It is the invitation to acquire a different point of view to look at the world from below, the Pope said. "With the eyes of those who suffer, not with the eyes of the powerful. To see history with the eyes of the little ones and not with the perspective of the powerful. To interpret the events of history from the point of view of the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, the wounded child, the exile and the fugitive.
With the look of one who is shipwrecked, of poor Lazarus, lying at the door of the rich glutton. Otherwise, nothing will ever change and a new time, a reign of justice and peace, will never emerge. The Virgin Mary also does so in the canticle of the Magnificat".
Prayer to Mary, Queen of Peace
Tonight we have gathered in prayer around Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, like the first disciples in the Upper Room, prayed the Pope. We turn to her, a profoundly peaceful woman, Queen of Peace:
"Pray with us, faithful Woman, sacred womb of the Word.
Teach us to listen to the cry of the poor and of Mother Earth,
attentive to the calls of the Spirit in the secret of the heart.
In the life of the brothers, in the events of history,
in the groaning and joy of creation.
Holy Mary, mother of the living,
strong, painful, faithful woman.
Virgin bride by the Cross,
where love is consummated and life springs forth,
be the guide of our commitment to service.
Teach us to stop with you at the infinite crosses.
where your Son is still crucified,
where life is most threatened.
To live and bear witness to Christian love
welcoming in every man a brother.
To renounce dark selfishness
to follow Christ, the true light of man.
Virgin of peace, door of sure hope,
welcome the prayer of your children!".
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