Pope Leo XIV addressed the faithful from the Prairie of the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes on September 27, 2026, calling for a month of prayer dedicated to ending global conflicts. The pontiff delivered his Angelus address during a four-day apostolic journey to France, standing before the sanctuary where St. Bernadette reported visions of the Immaculate Virgin.

The Pope invited all Christian communities and the faithful to pray the holy rosary throughout October. He designated this period as an opportunity for spiritual intervention in matters of international peace.

“I invite all the faithful and all Christian communities to pray the holy rosary throughout the coming month of October,” Pope Leo XIV said during the address.

The intention behind this call to prayer is specific: that wars may cease and lasting peace be established among peoples currently in conflict. The pontiff emphasized that prayer alone is insufficient without corresponding action in daily life. He urged believers to accompany their devotions with concrete acts of penance and mercy.

Focus on Reconciliation

Pope Leo XIV highlighted the necessity of fostering dialogue and reconciliation as essential components of the Church’s response to violence. The address served as a spiritual preparation for the Sunday Mass he was scheduled to celebrate on the prairie at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

The visit to Lourdes is part of a broader pastoral tour of France, aimed at engaging with Christian communities in a nation often characterized by secularism. By linking the traditional devotion of the rosary with contemporary geopolitical struggles, the Pope sought to bridge historical spirituality with modern humanitarian concerns.

The emphasis on mercy and penance reflects a consistent theme in Catholic social teaching regarding the dignity of human life and the common good.