Pope calls for Worldwide Rosary

At the end of his audience yesterday, March 18th, Pope Francis urged all of the faithful to join him in praying the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary at 9PM Rome Time, which will be 4pm EDT. This initiative was initially proposed by the Italian bishops amid the worsening conditions of the coronavirus pandemic.

Therefore the livestream of our community rosary will take place at 4pm EDT today with Vespers at 5:35pm.

Below is a translation of the Holy Father’s remarks:

Tomorrow we will celebrate the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. In life, work, family, joy and sorrow he always sought and loved the Lord, meriting the praise of Scripture as a just and wise man. Always invoke him with confidence, especially in difficult times, and entrust your lives to this great Saint.

I join in the appeal of the Italian bishops who in this health emergency have promoted a moment of prayer for the whole country. Every family, every faithful, every religious community: all united spiritually tomorrow at 9 p.m. in the recitation of the Rosary, with the Mysteries of Light. I will accompany you from here.

We are led to the luminous and transfigured face of Jesus Christ and His Heart by Mary, Mother of God, health of the sick, to whom we turn with the prayer of the Rosary, under the loving gaze of Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family and of our families. And we ask him to take special care of our family, our families, especially the sick and the people who are taking care of them: doctors, nurses, and volunteers, who risk their lives in this service.

There appears to be some confusion on whether Pope Francis intends for everyone to pray simultaneously, regardless of time zone, or if the intention is for a chain of prayer by everyone praying at 9pm in their own time zone.