Pope Francis reminded that next Saturday, 25 March, the anniversary of the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be celebrated.
At the General Audience this Wednesday, the Holy Father alluded to the anniversary of this act, held in March 2022 and which coincides with the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
The Holy Father recalled the consecration “in union with all the bishops of the world, the Church and humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
In this sense, he asked that ” we do not get tired of entrusting the cause of peace to the Queen of Peace .”
In addition, I have invited all believers and communities, especially prayer groups, “to renew the act of consecration to the Virgin every March 25, so that She, who is Mother, preserves us all in unity and in peace.”
“And let us not forget, in these days, the tormented Ukraine, which suffers so much,” Pope Francis concluded.
Pope Francis consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 2022, in a historic act repeated by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski in the Sanctuary of Fátima (Portugal) and joined by the religious and faithful of the five continents.
The act, held a month after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, took place within the framework of the penitential celebration “24 hours for the Lord.”
The Holy Father asked for the intercession of the Virgin Mary for peace and consecrated the entire world, especially Russia and Ukraine, to her Immaculate Heart in the presence of some 2,000 people.
The Pontiff thus accepted the request made on 2 March by the Catholic bishops of the Latin rite of Ukraine to consecrate both countries publicly.