Broadcast of the Recitation of the Holy Rosary with Pope Francis
Pontifical Council for the Promotion
of the New Evangelization
Press Release
Broadcast of the Recitation of the Holy Rosary with Pope Francis from the
Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens
Saturday, May 30, 2020, 17:30 (UTC/GMT + 2 hours)
They all joined together constantly in prayer,
along with Mary (Acts 1:14)
Let us join Pope Francis in reciting the Holy Rosary in spiritual communion with the principal Shrines of the world in order to invoke the help of Our Lady in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wishing to offer a further sign of hope to a world still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, this coming Saturday, May 30, at 17:30 local time (i.e. UTC/GMT + 2 hours), at the conclusion of the month of May, traditionally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and at the Vigil of Pentecost, Pope Francis will pray the Holy Rosary before the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens.
This event, organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, is inspired by a scene from the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles which presents the Apostles joined in constant prayer with Mary, the Mother of God (Acts 1:14). It will be broadcast to the principal Shrines of the world in order that they may join in the prayer of the Holy Father and contemporaneously share images of their own recitation.
Pope Francis’ attention to the shrine apostolate intends to support the pastoral activity of these very important places of prayer, whose usual function as pilgrimage destinations has been compromised owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now slowly recovering. Shrines around the world will in their turn promote this initiative in their respective countries in compliance with local safety standards.
Joining the Holy Father in the Vatican Gardens will be some of the most important Shrines in the world, including, from Europe, Lourdes (France), Fatima (Portugal), San Giovanni Rotondo and Pompei (Italy); from the United States of America the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (Washington D.C.); from Africa, Elele (Nigeria) and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Peace (Ivory Coast); from Latin America, the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico) and those of Chiquinquira (Colombia), Lujan and Milagro (Argentina), and from Asia, The National Shrine and Parish of the Divine Mercy (Philippines).
The Holy Father will be accompanied in the recitation of the Rosary by some of the faithful representing the various categories of people particularly affected by the virus. A lung specialist and a nurse from, respectively, the San Filippo Neri and the Policlinico Umberto I hospitals in Rome will represent healthcare workers who have been and continue to be in the frontline of the battle against the infection. There will also be a person who has made a recovery from COVID-19 and another who lost a loved one to the infection and who, like so many, was unable to offer comfort and say a final farewell. Representing the voluntary sector which has made such an important contribution to fighting the virus, there will be a volunteer from the Italian Civil Protection agency together with his family. A pharmacist and a television journalist will represent those who at their place of work continued to serve during the emergency in offering essential services. As a sign of hope and of the victory of life over death, there will also be a young family into which a child was born during the pandemic. The presence of the Chaplain to the Spalanzani hospital in Rome, of the Superior General of the Daughters of St. Camillus of Lellis and of the Sisters of this same Order’s house at Grottaferrata, who were infected en masse by the virus, will underline the work of priests and religious in assisting the sick and dying.
Let us entrust to Our Lord in this time of trial our families together will all of our intentions.