Vatican City, Aug 15, 2019 / 04:30 am
Pope Francis announced Thursday that he is giving 6,000 blessed rosaries to Catholic communities in Syria as a sign of his closeness on the Marian Feast of the Assumption.
"Prayer made with faith is powerful! We continue to pray the rosary for peace in the Middle East and in the whole world," Pope Francis said Aug. 15 in his Angelus message for the Assumption of Mary.
The pope blessed the rosaries made by the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, and said that the Syrian families that lost someone because of the war are close to his heart.
"The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is a call for everyone, especially for those who are afflicted by doubts and sadness," Pope Francis said. "Today we look at Mary and we see the goal. We see that a creature was assumed to the glory of Jesus, the Risen Christ."