The Holy Father Pope Francis wanted to share a particular prayer message in a special edition of The Pope Video, in an initiative of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. In a context marked by the global pandemic of the COVID-19 virus, the Pope spoke last Wednesday, 11 March, to thank all those who pray in these difficult moments, regardless of their religious tradition. With a special emphasis on the sick and those who are suffering most, he asked that we all pray the prayer “Under Your Protection” to the Virgin Mary, imploring her protection:

“We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test –
and deliver us from every danger,
O glorious and blessed Virgin.”

On 25 Wednesday, the day on which we remember the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the birth of the Lord, Pope Francis also invites “all the Heads of Churches and the leaders of all Christian communities, together with all Christians of the various confessions, to invoke the Most High and Almighty God” and to pray the Our Father at noon. Finally, the Holy Father announced a time of prayer and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for 27 Friday, at the end of which he will give “the Urbi et Orbi blessing” with the “possibility of receiving a plenary indulgence”.