Pope Leo XIV calls on Catholics to 'pray the rosary for peace' daily in October

Pope Leo XIV is urging Catholics worldwide to make the rosary a daily habit during October, a month the Church has long dedicated to the prayer: “Dear brothers and sisters, the month of October is now approaching, and in the Church it is dedicated in a special way to the Holy Rosary,” the pope said at the end of his Sept. 24 General Audience, according to Vatican News. “Therefore, I invite everyone, every day of the coming month, to pray the Rosary for peace: personally, in the family, in the community.”

The pope made a similar appeal to Catholics in a post to X.

In addition to the global call, the pope invited Vatican staff and others in Rome to gather nightly at 7 pm in Saint Peter’s Basilica for the rosary. On Oct. 11, Pope Leo will also lead a public rosary in St. Peter’s Square at 6 pm during the vigil for the Jubilee of Marian Spirituality.

That date also marks the anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

The practice of celebrating the rosary in October traces back centuries, according to Catholic Vote. The devotion took root after the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, when Christian forces defeated the Ottoman navy. At the time, Pope Pius V organized a “Holy League” to defend Europe and called on the the faithful to pray the rosary for victory. When the Christian fleet prevailed, Pius V credited the outcome to the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary. He then declared October 7 the feast of Our Lady of Victory, later renamed the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Since then, October has been tied to the rosary as a way for Catholics to seek peace and spiritual strength.