As the Church prepares for 22 August, the faithful are invited to join this global movement of prayer and fasting, entrusting the world’s conflicts to the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace.
Newsroom (21/08/2025, Gaudium Press )In a heartfelt appeal during his weekly General Audience in the Paul VI Hall, Pope Leo XIV urged the faithful worldwide to unite in prayer and fasting on 22 August, the liturgical commemoration of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to implore peace in regions ravaged by armed conflict.
Reflecting on the ongoing wars in the Holy Land, Ukraine, and beyond, the Holy Father called for a “disarmed and disarming peace,” emphasizing the role of Mary, Queen of Peace, as a guiding intercessor. “Mary is the Mother of the faithful here on earth and is remembered as the Queen of Peace,” he said, inviting Catholics to dedicate the day to interceding for those suffering from violence and injustice.
“May we come together in a day of prayer and fasting,” Pope Leo XIV exhorted, “imploring the Lord to grant us peace and justice, and to wipe away the tears of those who suffer because of ongoing armed conflicts.” He added, “May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede so that peoples may find the path of peace.”
The Pope also extended a special greeting to Polish pilgrims en route to the Shrine of Our Lady of Częstochowa at Jasna Góra, urging them to include in their prayers “the supplication for the gift of peace – a peace that is disarmed and disarming – for the whole world, especially for Ukraine and the Middle East.”
Rome and Italy Respond to the Holy Father’s Call
The Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome, Cardinal Baldo Reina, swiftly endorsed the Pope’s initiative. In a statement, he expressed solidarity with the Holy Father’s appeal, calling on parishes, communities, families, and individuals to participate. “In a time marked by conflicts and violence,” Cardinal Reina said, “we entrust with confidence to the Holy Virgin the tears of the suffering, the pain of the innocent, and the hope of all those who long for justice and reconciliation.”
He encouraged the faithful to embrace fasting “with simplicity and faith, nourished by prayer,” as a sign of communion and an offering for peace. “May the Lord, Prince of Peace, make us builders of harmony and hope among peoples,” he concluded.
The Italian Bishops’ Conference (CEI), led by Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, also joined the Pope’s call. “The persistence of situations of violence, hatred, and death compels us to intensify our prayer for a peace that is unarmed and disarming,” Cardinal Zuppi said. He stressed that peace is “not a spiritual utopia” but a “humble path” requiring patience, courage, and action. He called for a “vigilant and generative presence” to counter the horrors of war and urged those in political and diplomatic roles to seek enlightened solutions.
A Global Call to Action
The Pope’s appeal resonates as a clarion call amid escalating global tensions. By invoking the Queenship of Mary, Pope Leo XIV underscores the spiritual dimension of peacebuilding, urging Catholics to unite in a shared act of faith and solidarity. As the Church prepares for 22 August, the faithful are invited to join this global movement of prayer and fasting, entrusting the world’s conflicts to the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Vatican News
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