The Pope's vicar for Rome led the pilgrimage, urging the faithful to remember that prayer can change the course of history.
On March 19, the Feast of St. Joseph, the Pope's vicar for Rome, Cardinal Angelo de Donatis, led the faithful of Rome on a night pilgrimage, leaving from St. John Lateran after prayer at 11:30 pm, to arrive on March 20 for a 6 am Mass at the Sanctuary of Castel di Leva, before the image of Our Lady of Divine Love.
"On you be peace!" Verse 8 of Psalm 122 was the theme for the nocturnal pilgrimage to Divine Love to invoke peace
The image of Our Lady of Divine Love was brought to the basilica of St. John Lateran and, for the occasion, the cathedral of Rome remained open for anyone who wanted to go to pray.
Our Lady of Divine Love is known as "she who saves the City," and the faithful turn to her in particular for momentous intentions.
She is known as "She who saves the City"
"We live the current situation of war in Ukraine with great concern," the cardinal wrote, in calling for the pilgrimage. "We all desire peace, that peace that men alone cannot build. This is why we intend to respond to the invitation of our bishop Pope Francis to persevere in prayer and penance. On other occasions, when faced with moments of great difficulty, the Roman people have entrusted themselves to Our Lady of Divine Love to invoke her maternal intercession."
The cardinal urged the faithful to remember that "prayer has the power to change the heart of man and the course of history."
