Saturday, May 30, 2020

Rosary in the Vatican Gardens

At 5:30pm this afternoon (11:30am EDT), the Vigil of Pentecost Sunday, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided over the recital of the Holy Rosary at the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens.


This Marian celebration was organized by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization.  The theme of this gathering was: Assiduous and agreeing in prayer, together with Mary (Acts 1: 14). The Marian shrines of the world have joined the Pope in this moment of prayer, broadcast worldwide on the eve of Pentecost Sunday.


The decades of the rosary were recited by some women and men representing various categories of people particularly affected by the health emergency caused by COVID-19. A doctor and a nurse were present, representing all the health personnel engaged on the front lines in hospitals; a healed person and one who has lost a family member, in the name of all those who have been personally touched by the coronavirus; a priest, hospital chaplain, and a nun who is a nurse, representing all the priests and consecrated persons who are close to those who are suffering from the disease; a pharmacist and a journalist, in the name of all the people who continued to perform their services for others even during the pandemic period; a Civil Protection volunteer with his family, representing those who have worked to cope with this emergency and for the whole vast world of volunteering; and a young family, to which a child was born during this period.


At the conclusion of the recitation of the Holy Rosary, after the Apostolic blessing, Pope Francis offered a brief unscripted greeting to all the Shrines throughout Latin America who were joining in with the recitation at the Vatican Grotto.


Greetings of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
addressed to others participating in the
recitation of the Holy Rosary

They tell me that there are many shrines in Latin America, and I want to greet them in Spanish.

To all of you in the Shrines throughout Latin America - I see Guadalupe and many others - who are joining with us, united in prayer.  I greet you in my mother tongue.  Thank you for being close to all of us.  May our Mother of Guadalupe accompany us!
Texto original en español
Testo in italiano

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