Expressing his committment to peace in Ukraine, Pope Francis is calling on all people to pray an act of consecration of Ukraine and Russia to Mary, the mother of Jesus, on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
This prayer was said by the Pope and believers last year on March 25. This week, the Pope has asked that it be renewed to help end the war.
“This is no magic formula,” the Pope said last year, “but a spiritual act," reported Vatican News. "It is an act of complete trust on the part of children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, reposing all their fears and pain in her heart and abandoning themselves to her.”
During his General Audience in St. Peter's Square on Wednesday, the Pope said, “My thoughts go to the 25th March of last year, when, in union with all the bishops of the world, I consecrated the Church and humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
“Let us not tire of consecrating the cause of peace to the Queen of Peace,” he added. “I would like to invite every believer and community, especially prayer groups, to renew the Act of Consecration to Our Lady every 25th March, so that she, who is Mother, might preserve us all in unity and peace.”
The consecration prayer can be read here.
Also in his remarks, the Pope noted a "tormented Ukraine," which "is suffering very greatly."
Currently, there are no definitive numbers available of Ukrainians or Russians killed in the conflict. However, some reports claim that Ukraine has lost around 100,000 soldiers and Russia has lost about 80,000. This does not include civilian deaths on either side, and some estimates of soldiers killed in combat are much higher.