Rosary marathon in May 2021 for the end of the pandemic

Pope Francis launched a marathon to pray the rosary every day in the Marian month of May 2021, to ask for the end of the pandemic.

It took place under the theme “The whole Church was fervently praying to God,” which recalls a verse in the Book of Acts (12:5).

Thirty Marian shrines located all over the world and dedicated to the Virgin Mary took part in reciting the rosary in unison, each one in turn leading the prayer.

These shrines were: Our Lady of Walsingham in England; Jesus the Savior and Mother Mary in Nigeria; Our Lady of Częstochowa in Poland; Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth; Our Lady of the Rosary in South Korea; Our Lady Aparecida in Brazil; Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in the Philippines; Our Lady of Lujan in Argentina; Holy House of Loreto in Italy; Our Lady of Knock in Ireland; Our Lady of the Poor in Banneux, Belgium; Our Lady of Africa in Algeria; Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in Portugal; Our Lady of Health in India; Our Lady Queen of Peace in Medjugorje, Bosnia; St. Mary's Cathedral in Australia; Immaculate Conception in the United States; Our Lady of Lourdes in France; Meryem Ana in Turkey; Nuestra Señora de la Caridad del Cobre in Cuba; Our Lady of Nagasaki in Japan; Our Lady of Montserrat in Spain; Our Lady of the Cape in Canada; National Shrine Our Lady Ta' Pinu in Malta; Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico; Mother of God in Zarvantysia in Ukraine; the Black Madonna of Altötting in Germany; Our Lady of Lebanon; Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii in Italy.

The pope’s initiative, promoted by the Vatican Council for the New Evangelization, followed his appeal at the end of May 2020 to join him for the prayer of the rosary in the Vatican gardens, where a shrine is dedicated to the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes. Pope Francis visited this sanctuary to pray only two days after his election, signaling his fidelity to the mother of Jesus.

“All of us turn to our moms when we are struggling or facing a challenge,” the pope said while inaugurating the rosary marathon.

Adapted from [Lost link]