One Million Children Praying the Rosary initiative

Perpetual Rosary for Peace

Source: ACN Ireland, Perpetual Rosary for Peace

On 1 October, between 700 and 1,000 children from schools and parishes in Rome will join the Holy Father in the Vatican Gardens, marking the beginning of the 'One Million Children Praying the Rosary' initiative. The event will begin at 5pm with the Pope joining the children later to pray the Rosary. Together with the Holy Father, they will pray in spiritual union with children, families, schools and Christian communities around the world.

The 'One Million Children Praying the Rosary' initiative began in Venezuela in 2005 and has gradually grown into a worldwide prayer movement involving children, families, parishes, schools and Church groups on every continent.

This year, for the first time, the campaign will take place over an entire week, from 1 to 7 October, allowing dioceses, parishes, schools, communities and families on different continents to choose the day best suited to their pastoral circumstances, while remaining united in the same intention of prayer for peace and unity.

Aid to the Church in Need Ireland is one of the promoters of 'One Million Children Praying the Rosary'. Last year was their most successful one so far with 15,000 children taking part in the initiative on the island. They hope that this extraordinary figure will be surpassed this year.

The week will culminate on 7 October, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

The 2026 campaign is inspired by the message of Fatima: 'In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph"'

The initiative takes on particular significance at a time when millions of people are facing war, violence, persecution, poverty and uncertainty. In this context, the prayer of children is intended as a simple but universal sign of trust and hope: children of different languages, cultures and countries united in the same prayer for peace.

The campaign is inspired by the words attributed to St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina: "When one million children pray the Rosary, the world will change."

The invitation is not addressed only to children. ACN Ireland also encourages parents, teachers, priests, religious, catechists and families to pray with them. It is not necessary to pray the entire Rosary: even a single decade, prayed in faith, can become part of this worldwide chain of prayer.

ACN provides prayer materials in several languages and invites participants to register their participation, helping to make visible on a map the network of children joining the prayer in different countries.
For more information and resources see: www.acnireland.org/pray-the-rosary-campaign

The Perpetual Rosary for Peace initiative, which began in France is also encouraging children to pray the Rosary in over 60 countries around the world. See: www.chapeletperpetuelpourlemonde.org/lets-encourage-children-to-pray-for-peace/?lang=en