His Beatitude Sviatoslav Asks Children and Priests to Join the “A Million Children Praying the Rosary” Initiative
From October 1–7, 2026, the international prayer initiative “A Million Children Praying the Rosary” will take place, bringing together children from around the world in prayer for peace and unity. His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, encourages the children of our Church and their priests to actively participate in this worldwide prayer.
The initiative is organized by the Pontifical Foundation “Aid to the Church in Need” (ACN). This year, Pope Leo XIV will open the week of prayer: on October 1 at 5:00 PM Rome time (6:00 PM Kyiv time), the Holy Father will pray the Rosary together with hundreds of children near the Grotto of Lourdes in the Vatican Gardens.
Pope Leo XIV praying at the Lourdes Grotto in the Vatican Gardens, May 30, 2026. Photo: Vatican Media
His Beatitude Sviatoslav encourages the children of the UGCC to unite in prayer with the Holy Father and their peers from different countries, and urges priests to help them join this initiative in their parishes and communities.
“I address all the children of Ukraine and of our Church: your prayer has special power. It opens the heavens and the Immaculate Heart of the Mother of God,” emphasizes the Head of the UGCC.
At a time when the world is suffering from wars, violence, and divisions, the organizers seek to help children feel that their prayers matter and that they can contribute to the pursuit of peace and unity.
How to Participate
From October 1–7, priests, catechists, teachers, and parents are invited to organize a joint prayer with children by praying the Rosary for peace and unity. Prayers can be held in parishes, catechetical schools, communities, and families, uniting with children around the world and especially imploring a just peace for Ukraine.
Prayer groups are asked to register on the initiative’s official website. There, you can also download free materials in various languages to prepare for and lead the prayer.
Participants are encouraged to share photos and short stories on social media using the hashtag #1MillionChildrenPraying and tagging@acn_int, and to send them to [email protected].
The organizers especially ask communities praying on October 1–6 to send a few photos immediately after the prayer, noting the location and number of participants. Before sending photos and videos, please ensure you have the necessary permissions for their publication—especially for images of children—and do not include their full names or personal information.
The UGCC Department for Information
