Archbishop Cordileone to hold ‘Rosary for Peace’ on Election Day

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 7, 2022 / 13:15 pm

Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco is inviting the faithful to join him in praying a rosary for peace on Election Day.

“At 12:30 pm on election day, please join me to pray a rosary for peace,” he invited on Twitter Sunday. “Let us ask Our Lady’s intercession with the Prince of Peace, who suffered much violence for peace in our day, and eternal peace.”

Catholics can participate in the virtual rosary through the Archdiocese of San Francisco’s YouTube page, where it will be streamed live at 12:30 p.m. PST, or 3:30 p.m. EST, on Nov. 8.

“As Americans participate in the electoral process and with political violence on the rise, we will pray for peace in our country,” the archdiocesan event page reads.

The page also features an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas and the unborn.

Peter Marlow, director of communications and media relations for the archdiocese, said that the rosary for peace includes the unborn — and mentioned that when Our Lady appeared in the 16th century, she came as a pregnant woman.

“We know that peace in the world begins with peace in the womb as well. So this is an important part of the prayer,” he told CNA. “It’s for peace overall, but specifically an opportunity to pray for peace in the womb as well.”

California is one of five states that will vote on abortion during the midterm elections. On Election Day, citizens in that state will vote on Proposition 1, which would amend California’s constitution to explicitly protect abortion. Cordileone has repeatedly encouraged voters to say “no” to the abortion measure, as has the California Catholic Conference.

“Proposition 1 is a worst-case scenario for abortion in California,” the group warns. “It is an expensive and misleading ballot measure that allows unlimited late-term abortions — for any reason, at any time, even moments before birth, paid for by tax dollars.”

California currently allows abortion for any reason before viability, when a baby can survive outside the womb — generally considered to begin around 24 weeks of pregnancy. After viability, California allows abortion when a woman’s life or health is threatened.

Marlow mentioned that Cordileone previously held a rosary for peace in Ukraine during Russia’s ongoing invasion of that country.

“When we see violence in the world or threats of violence — and we’ve seen some of that around, on the political side, through the election cycle — we want to make sure that we’re taking steps to pause and pray for peace in the world, specifically during the election process, as we’ve seen an uptick in violence,” he said. “That’s the motivation.”

He stressed that all are welcome to say the rosary on Election Day.

“The invitation was to everyone,” Marlow said. “We want to join all faith traditions, not just Catholics, but anyone who wants to join in with the archbishop to pray the rosary.”