On the evening of Friday, March 25, when Catholics of the world celebrate the Annunciation, Pope Francis will lead a service at St. Peter's Basilica. He will pray the Act of Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Pope Francis invited bishops from all around the world and their priests to join him in prayer for peace and the consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. According to the Vatican press service, the prayer will begin on March 25 at 17.00 Roman time (at 18.00 Kyiv time).
The bishops of Europe and the world responded to the Pope's call. The members of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Russia appealed to "Catholics and all who believe in the power of God" to "join them in the unceasing prayer for peace in Ukraine, Russia and the world, reinforced by fasting and acts of charity." The plenary meeting participants of the Episcopal Conference called on parishes and communities to prepare special prayers for March 25.
Simultaneously with the prayer in Rome, the same rite will take place at the site of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in the Portuguese city of Fatima. It will be led by Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who recently visited Ukraine.
In Fatima, during the famous apparition of the Virgin Mary on July 13, 1917, a request was made through the shepherd children to consecrate Russia to Her Immaculate Heart. If this is not done, the prophecy said, "The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated."
In 1930, the Catholic Church officially recognized these events as a miracle and a revelation that does not contradict the doctrine.
Since then, various acts of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary have taken place. Still, observers point out that no one carried out the will of the Virgin Mary at the dedication point to Russia. On October 31, 1942, Pope Pius XII announced the consecration of the whole world, and Russia was not mentioned separately. In 1984, Pope John Paul II also announced the consecration of the entire world.
During this ceremony, Pope Francis will say a prayer for the liberation of Russia from the power of the "evil enemy", i.e. Satan.
The request for the consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary was received by the Pope from Ukrainian Catholics on the seventh day of the war. The head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, stressed that the decision of Pope Francis is a spiritual act that the Ukrainian people have long-awaited.
It should be noted that on March 20, in St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis prayed for peace in Ukraine and stressed that Russia's attack on Ukraine is a sacrilege that has no justification. The Pope also addressed the world community and called for efforts to stop the bloodshed.