Vatican Synod Members Pray the Rosary for Peace at Candlelight Vigil in Saint Peter's Basilica - FULL Video

Vatican Synod Members Pray the Rosary for Peace at Candlelight Vigil: enough with the atrocities, those who suffer are in the heart of the Church

Let wars, violence, exploitation and discrimination stop, beyond differences it is possible to dialogue as brothers: this is the message that came from St. Peter's Basilica where this evening the participants in the Synod prayed to the Virgin, entrusting humanity and creation to her.

The celebration was presided over by Cardinal Mauro Gambetti

The names of the many victims, poor people and people oppressed by the tragedies that are happening, too often amidst the indifference of the world, have a name and a face and are in the heart of the Church. These names have been at the center of the dialogue and prayers shared in recent weeks at the Synod on synodality and in a special way of the Rosary for Peace which the participants in the assembly underway in the Vatican for almost a month have recited in procession from the atrium of the St. Peter's Basilica to the Altar of the Chair.

Enough war

During the contemplation of the five glorious mysteries and the prayer to Mary presided over by Cardinal Archpriest Mauro Gambetti, that “enough!” rang out. to violence, exploitation, discrimination pronounced several times by Francis. “Let us add our voice to that of the Pope”, said the members of the synodal assembly coming from the most diverse contexts in the world: “Enough with the war, with the atrocious and senseless violence! Enough with the hatred that only fuels hatred and prevents us from seeing other paths! Enough with the logic of revenge at any cost for the wrongs suffered! Enough with the growing inhumanity that makes us deaf to the pain and tears of children, the elderly, the disabled and those who cannot defend themselves."

Marian prayer particularly embraced women, mothers, sisters, daughters, victims of violence. “We want to become ever more bearers of life, hope, peace, especially for those who suffer and are subjected to the horror of the violence that devastates so many peoples today”, “follow in the footsteps of the risen Lord, implore his light to testify that life it is stronger than death and to pray for the peace of all", said the participants in the Synod, asking the Virgin Mary in prayer for the gift of becoming "a source of encouragement and hope for all those who feel disadvantaged, marginalized and excluded".

Regardless of the differences

Although starting from different cultures, histories and countries, "some of which have taken up arms against each other", this evening's Rosary for peace wanted to represent a visible sign of God's gift of communion beyond of the differences of each one, experienced in these weeks in the Vatican: "it is really possible to seek together paths for the future, starting from different cultures and histories". “Through this Marian prayer, together,” said one of the participants, “we want to demonstrate that it is possible to respect each other, meet and dialogue. Learn to listen to yourself by listening to the Spirit, without wanting to let your own point of view prevail."

The prayer of the Rosary with the participants of the Synod in St. Peter's Basilica

The Rosary was also an opportunity to thank the Lord for the Synod on synodality, defined as a "new Pentecost": "A process to seek the truth and discern together ways to serve the common good in the light of the Gospel". A prayer also in the sign of joy, therefore, that resounded in the Vatican Basilica: "The joy of the brotherhood of the baptized in Christ", experienced in the Synod, the joy that makes us exclaim together that Jesus is risen. A particular intention was aimed at the unity of Christians so that "their testimony of brotherhood can be converted into the leaven of peace".

A meditation on the care of creation could not be missing. “Mary who took care of Jesus, now takes care of the wounded world”: the participants in the Synod take on the commitment to care for the common home, to protect nature, create more just relationships, stay close to the poor and the suffering, to grow love in the image of Trinitarian love and, in full harmony with the wishes of Francis also expressed during the WYD in Lisbon, to develop a synodal Church for "everyone, everyone, everyone".

Source: Vatican News Italian