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International Missionary Rosary to pray for Church and Pope on October 17
Catholics worldwide will unite in the International Missionary Rosary on October 17 to pray for the Church’s global mission and for Pope Leo XIV’s health and recovery, on the eve of the 100th edition of World Mission Day.
By Sr. Christine Masivo, CPS
As the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the 100th World Mission Day on Sunday, October 18, Pope Leo XIV and the Church’s mission will be entrusted to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary during the International Mission Rosary on Saturday, October 17.
The prayers are scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Rome time and the initiative is promoted by the Pontifical Mission Society.
Inspired by Pope Leo XIV’s message, “One in Christ, United in Mission,” the gathering will focus on prayer for the Church’s evangelizing mission worldwide, as well as for the Pope’s health and recovery.
This year marks the centenary of World Mission Day, which has been celebrated annually since 1926 on the penultimate Sunday of October. It encourages all Catholics to renew their commitment to spreading the Gospel and supporting missionaries.
Special prayer will be offered for Pope and Church
As the Church commemorates the centenary of World Mission Day, the International Missionary Rosary has taken on added significance with the inclusion of special prayer for Pope Leo XIV.
The rosary will be led by Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization’s Section for First Evangelization and New Particular Churches.
Participants will gather on the terraces of the International Center for Missionary Animation (CIAM), located on the campus of the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, overlooking St. Peter Square.
The faithful will seek the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Pope, the universal Church, and those dedicated to proclaiming the Gospel to show the importance of prayer in strengthening unity among the Catholics and sustaining the Church’s missionary effort across different cultures and communities.
A rosary for the five continents
The Missionary Rosary was established in February 1951 by new Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, who was then serving as national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, now known as the Pontifical Mission Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
It was created to broaden hearts and prayer, embracing not only personal needs but also those of the entire human family and the Church’s evangelizing mission throughout the world.
The glorious mysteries will be dedicated to Africa, America, Europe, Oceania, and Asia. The 50 Hail Marys will be recited in two local languages for each continent, celebrating the diversity of the universal Church. Each mystery will be announced in Italian, English, and Spanish.
The meditation will draw on messages from Pope Francis for previous World Mission Days, as well as a homily by Pope Leo XIV and his first Urbi et Orbi blessing, in which he stated, “we must look for ways to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges and encourages dialogue, a Church ever open to welcoming, like this Square with its open arms, all those who are in need of our charity, our presence, our readiness to dialogue and our love.”
Remembering missionaries around the world
Special prayers will be offered for ad gentes missionaries who leave their homeland, families, and familiar surroundings to proclaim the Gospel, often in places affected by poverty, conflict, and cultural challenges.
The rosary will serve as both an expression of solidarity with missionaries and a reminder of the Church’s responsibility to support work through prayer.
People around the world will be able to join the prayer spiritually, as the event will be livestreamed on various platforms.
As the Church marks a century of World Mission Day, the gathering will renew its commitment to unity, evangelization, and service, entrusting the Pope, missionaries, and the universal Church to the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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