John Paul II Urges Faithful to Say the Rosary for World Peace

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 29, 2002 (Zenit.org).- John Paul II urged the faithful to recite the rosary for world peace, and announced he will publish a document on this Marian prayer.

When he met at midday today with several thousand pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of the papal summer residence, the Pope referred to world tensions and reminded his audience that October is the month the Church dedicates to the rosary, a "traditional prayer ... so simple yet so profound."

The Pope said the rosary "is a contemplative view of the face of Christ carried out, so to speak, through Mary's eyes. Therefore, it is a prayer that is at the very heart of the Gospel, and is in full harmony with the inspiration of the Second Vatican Council."

The rosary "is very much in keeping with the indication I gave in the apostolic letter 'Novo Millennio Ineunte,'" the Pope added. "It is necessary that the Church go into the deep of the new millennium, beginning with the contemplation of the face of Christ."

"I am also preparing a document," he said, "which will help to rediscover the beauty and depth of this prayer."

"I wish to entrust once again the great cause of peace to the prayer of the rosary. We are faced with an international situation full of tensions, of incandescent dimensions," the Pope continued.

"In some parts of the world, where the confrontation is stronger -- I am thinking in particular of the martyred land of Christ -- we can see that, although always necessary, the political attempts are worth little if spirits remain exacerbated and there is no ability to demonstrate a heartfelt disposition to renew the line of dialogue," the Holy Father emphasized.

"But, who can infuse such sentiments, save God alone? It is more necessary than ever that prayers for peace be raised to him throughout the world," the Pope stressed.

"Precisely in this perspective, the rosary reveals itself as a particularly appropriate prayer," he added. "It constructs peace also because, while appealing to God's grace, it sows in the one reciting it the seed of good, from which fruits of justice and solidarity in personal and community life can be expected."

John Paul II noted: "How much peace would be assured in family relations, if the holy rosary was prayed by the family!"