Pope Francis has written a letter asking all Catholics to join with prayer in their parishes on Friday to pray the act of consecration of the world, particularly Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The Vatican published the Pope’s letter two days before he is scheduled to pray the Marian consecration in St. Peter’s Basilica on Friday, 25 March, in union with bishops around the world.
“I ask you to join in this act by inviting the priests, religious and faithful to assemble in their churches and places of prayer on 25 March, so that God’s Holy People may raise a heartfelt and choral plea to Mary our Mother,” Pope Francis said in the letter sent to all the world’s bishops.
Pope Francis also included the text of the consecration prayer with his letter so that all Catholics can pray it together in union on the Solemnity of the Annunciation.
“This act of consecration is meant to be a gesture of the universal Church, which in this dramatic moment lifts up to God, through his Mother and ours, the cry of pain of all those who suffer and implore an end to the violence, and to entrust the future of our human family to the Queen of Peace,” said the Holy Father.
The Pope will pray the consecration during a penitential service which he will preside over in St. Peter’s Basilica at 5 p.m. local time.