Pope Francis leads a Rosary for peace before the ancient icon of Maria Salus Populi Romani at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, on Sunday evening, October 6.

In his prayer for peace, the pope intercedes to Mother Mary for the world in danger “so that it may cherish life and reject war, care for those who suffer, the poor, the defenseless, the sick, and the afflicted, and protect our Common Home.”

By quoting the prophecy of prophet Isiah 2:4, Pope Francis prayed that Mother Mary help in these times of oppressed by injustices and devastated by wars, to wipe the tears from the suffering faces of those who mourn the loss of their loved ones, awaken us from the stupor that has darkened our path, and disarm our hearts from the weapons of violence.

He appealed to Mother Mary to look upon “the human family which has lost the joy of peace and the sense of fraternity.”

Pope Francis invoked the Queen of Peace to “transform the hearts of those who fuel hatred, silence the din of weapons that generate death, extinguish the violence that brews in the heart of humanity, and inspire projects for peace in the actions of those who govern nations.

The participants in the Second Session of the 16th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops joined Pope Francis in this prayer for peace.

• With inputs from Vatican News