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GOD SEEKS PEACEMAKERS!

PRAYING THE ROSARY FOR PEACE

By Pope Leo XIV

“Let me hear what the Lord God will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts (Psalm 85:8).” This psalm fittingly accompanies our recitation of the Rosary for Peace because it expresses the hope that we need in the face of violence and difficulty.

Let us dispose our hearts to listen to the Word of God, so that in prayer we may come to understand the meaning of history and recognize the providence of God, who always guides and sustains us. The Virgin Mary is the model for the believer who inclines the ear of the heart to listen to what God says. She is an example for us in her obedience, which welcomed the Son of God into her womb at the incarnation.

Contemplating the Mysteries of the Rosary with Mary leads us to recognize in Jesus Christ the one final word that is spoken by the Father, a word of peace for all who turn to him with contrite hearts. The Lord never abandons us, even when we forget him, even when we lose our way. He comes in search of us and draws near to us with everlasting love. As Isaiah the Prophet reminds us: “Peace, peace, to the far and the near, says the Lord (Isaiah 57:19).” Whoever trusts in God understands this proclamation of peace and becomes an instrument of peace by building it with his or her own hands.

Peace, in fact, is not a theory to be tested in a laboratory, nor a naive illusion, nor a matter to be pursued out of self-interest. When sought with a sincere heart, it is rather a daily commitment. It springs from love and justice as harmony that unites people, families, communities, and cultures. Even in this time marked by conflict and tension, peace becomes possible when we choose to listen to the cry of those deprived of it: innocent children, anguished mothers and fathers, abused prisoners and refugees, and people of every age who suffer. All of them have just one word upon their lips: peace!

We know well that peace is always possible because it is a gift from God. This peace, God’s peace, has a face: the face of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who by his life, given for us, reconciled heaven and earth. As Saint Paul the Apostle writes: “He is our peace (Ephesians 2:14).” He is the one who breaks down the walls of hostility. He conquers arrogance through humility. He redeems all of creation from sin.

It is when Jesus is with us and we behave as true disciples that the Holy Spirit can accomplish what appears to be impossible. On the contrary, when we move away from God, we distance ourselves from humanity, from our neighbors; and we become indifferent to their suffering. Every time that we return to the Lord, his peace becomes our responsibility according to the duties and labors of each person.

In this way, our prayer becomes mission and prophecy. The cry of the innocent must no longer be heard in our cities. No one should be forced to flee their home because of the threat of bombs. Our desire for power and our violent words must give away to the thirst for peace, truth, and justice. And everyone can and must do their part, beginning with small but important things, such as abstaining from every form of verbal or physical violence in daily life and on social media.

Brothers and sisters! True peace begins in a heart that loves. It is witnessed to by lips that speak words of reconciliation. It is reflected in eyes that look upon the world with wisdom and gentleness. This is our true strength: the strength of love and truth. God seeks peacemakers! May the Blessed Mother help us to answer God each day with our own “Here I am, Lord”, not just in words but in deeds (5-30-26).

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
A ROSARY FOR PEACE
FEATURING PRAYERS BY POPE FRANCIS

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
A FELLOWSHIP OF FRANCISCANS IN SPIRIT
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY

Members of the Assisi Project, ranging in age from 18 to 102, pray each and every day for all who ask for our prayers. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. In communion with Pope Leo XIV and in solidarity with people of faith and goodwill everywhere, we also pray for peace, truth, and justice. In addition, we pray for all migrants and refugees; for the courage to speak truth to power; and for the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned. Please join us in prayer by clicking the link below! Thank you for your prayers! May God bless you! May the Risen Lord give you peace!

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. We are also dedicated to promoting a devotion to Pope Francis (1936-2025) as a patron of peace, mercy, and fraternity in our sick and suffering world.

The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

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