Consecration of Ukraine & Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: March 25, 2022
Pope invites bishops to join him in consecration of Russia and Ukraine
The Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be pronounced by the Pope on the afternoon of Friday 25 March in St Peter’s Basilica. The act of consecration will be performed in communion with the local Churches throughout the world.
By Vatican News
In response to questions from journalists, the director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has confirmed, “Pope Francis has invited the bishops of the whole world, along with their priests, to join him in the prayer for peace and in the consecration and entrustment of Russia and of Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
The Pope will make the prayer in the afternoon of Friday, 25 March – the Solemnity of the Annunciation – in St Peter’s Basilica, on the occasion of the Celebration of Penance, scheduled to begin at 5 pm. The same act, on the same day, will be undertaken by all the bishops of the world. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, will perform the act of consecration at Fatima as the envoy of the Pope.
Already at the Angelus on 13 March, Pope Francis had invited the whole Church to pray: “I ask all diocesan and religious communities to increase their moments of prayer for peace.” And at the general audience on 23 February he had called for a day of prayer and fasting on Ash Wednesday for peace in Ukraine, saying, “May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the madness of war.”
In the apparition of 13 July 1917 in Fatima, Our Lady had asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the communion of reparation on the First Saturdays, stating that if this request was not granted, Russia would “spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church,” and “the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be annihilated.”
After the apparitions of Fatima there were various acts of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary: on 31 October 1942, Pope Pius XII consecrated the whole world, and on 7 July 1952 he specifically consecrated Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with the Apostolic Letter Sacro vergente anno, in view of the difficult situation of Christians forced to live in an atheistic communist regime.
Later, Pope St Paul VI in 1964, and Pope St John Paul II in 1981, 1982, and 1984 renewed this consecration of the whole human race. The consecration in 1984 took place March 25, in St Peter’s Square; on that occasion, St John Paul II, referring specifically to Our Lady’s request at Fatima, and in spiritual union with all the bishops of the world, entrusted all peoples, and “in a special way… those men and nations who are in special need of this entrustment and consecration,” to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
In June 2000, when the Holy See revealed the third part of the so-called secret of Fatima, the then-secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, pointed out that Sister Lucia had personally confirmed that the act of consecration performed by John Paul II in 1984 corresponded to what Our Lady had asked.
And now this year, on March 25, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia together with Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in communion with bishops from all over the world.
2021 was a special year for the Church. It was dedicated to St. Joseph. Pope Francis declared it to commemorate 150 years since St. Joseph was named patron saint of the universal Church in 1870, during Pius IX’s pontificate.
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- Photo of Blessed Pius IX Seated on the Throne
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- Pope Pius IX: A Red Papal Shoe with Image of the Pope in the Background
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- Bound Document With Coat of Arms of Pope Pius IX
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- An annual medal of the Vatican., Pius IX
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- Two Coin Sets Commemorating the Lateran Treaty: Case
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- Note Requesting an Indulgence, Signed by Pope Pius IX, Close Up
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- Pius IX: Red Shoe & Document of Authenticity
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- Pope Francis: Study Guide Used in Conclave Electing Jorge Bergoglio in 2013
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- Pope Francis: Photo Signed by 28 of the Cardinals in the Conclave,
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- Zucchetto Worn by Pope Francis
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- Collection of Sedi Vacanti Stamps from 1929-2013: Pope Francis
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- Pope Francis: A Medallion from the 2019 Ad Limina Visit of Archbishop Dennis Schnurr, Obverse
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- Pope Francis: Brass Ciborium Used at a Papal Mass
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- Cardinal Ernest Simoni & Pope Francis
POPE FRANCIS
“God entrusted to him His most precious treasures: Jesus and Mary, and he responded fully with faith, with courage, with tenderness, with a father’s heart.”
Pope Francis’ objective is “to increase our love for this great saint, to encourage us to implore his intercession and to imitate his virtues and his zeal.”
(Apostolic Letter, Patris Corde)
To guide this year, Pope Francis has published the Apostolic Letter, “Patris Corde,” “With a Father’s Heart.” In it, he explains that “the two Evangelists who speak most of Joseph, tell us very little, yet enough for us to appreciate what sort of father he was, and the mission entrusted to him by God’s providence.”
The letter outlines seven characteristics of St. Joseph’s life, from love, tenderness, obedience and acceptance, to qualities like courage, creativity, his example of work and his discreet way of serving behind the scenes.
Pope Francis also offered the possibility to obtain a plenary indulgence until Dec. 8, 2021.
MASSIMO DEL POZZO
Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
January 9, 2016
“It is a great manifestation of mercy and compassion. The Church shows her motherhood by settling all debts and consequences of sin.”
The conditions to obtain the plenary indulgence during the Year of St. Joseph are the same as always: going to confession, receiving communion and praying for the pope’s intentions.
Daniel Díaz Vizzi
Translation: CT
