Year of Faith: International Rosary for Youth

Pilgrims and tourists visiting Saint Peter’s Square last Friday afternoon would have come across a group of young people singing and praying the Rosary in various languages beneath a large wooden cross.

A Moment with Mary is an initiative for the Year of Faith which invites young people from around the world to participate in this international Rosary, broadcast daily from Saint Peter’s Square on local television networks and on the internet. The driving force behind the project is the online Catholic network Aleteia, in collaboration with CTV, Telepace, Youcat, the Pontifical Council for the laity, and the Centro San Lorenzo International Centre for Youth.

Father Eric Jacquinet, Director of the Youth Section for Pontifical Council for the Laity, spoke with Vatican Radio about the project, and the role of Mary in the lives of young people.

“Jesus on the Cross,” said Father Jacquinet “asks us to take Mary home, and perhaps be educated by her to believe in Christ; to believe in Christ every day is not so easy.”

And for young people as well, he continued, “we need Mary to welcome Jesus in all of our activities.”

A Moment with Mary comes in part as a response to the Holy Father’s call for the faithful to pray the Rosary during this Holy Year of Faith.

Listen to the full report from Vatican Radio’s Ann Schneible: