Pope Francis greeted the pilgrims at his general audience of Wednesday, October 7, 2020, on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, by saying that praying the Rosary is making use of "a weapon that protects us from evil and temptations."
In greeting the Arabic-speaking faithful, the Pope invited them to pray the Rosary, "and to carry it in your hands or in your pockets." "The recitation of the rosary is the most beautiful prayer we can offer to the Virgin Mary," he added; "it is a contemplation of the stages of the life of Jesus the Savior, with his Mother, Mary. "
"In her apparitions," the Pope told the Poles, "the Virgin Mary has often exhorted us to recite the Rosary, especially in the face of the threats facing the world. Even today, in this time of pandemic, we must hold a rosary in our hands, praying for ourselves, for our loved ones and for all people."
The Pope concluded the meeting in the Paul VI Hall by addressing the Italians, urging them to rediscover "the beauty of the Rosary prayer, which has nourished the faith of the Christian people throughout the centuries."
Addressing the young, the elderly, the sick and the newlyweds (attending in their wedding attire and masked) he entrusted them "to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and our mother, so that each one may be a joyful witness to the charity of Christ."