Catholics across the Archdiocese of New York are invited to join Pope Leo XIV for a special prayer vigil for peace this Saturday, held the day before Divine Mercy Sunday, a moment of reflection that comes amid rising global tensions and renewed calls from the Holy Father to reject war.

At Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, the regularly scheduled 12 p.m. Mass on Saturday will be followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament on the main altar until 3 p.m., followed by Benediction to coincide with events at the Vatican. All are welcome to attend. Watch the livestream on Saint Patrick Cathedral’s YouTube page. 

In Rome, the vigil will be marked by the presence of candles lit from the Lamp of Peace in Assisi, the hometown of St. Francis of Assisi, whose life and witness continue to inspire the Church’s call to peace. Popes have often traveled to Assisi to pray for and to promote peace. Pope Leo visited the small town in November, where he said he prayed for peace at St. Francis’s tomb.

How to watch

The vigil begins at 6 p.m. Rome time (12 p.m. New York time). Vatican News will broadcast it live in various languages so that people from all over the world may participate. Their English page can be found here.

The prayer booklet is in Italian and can be found here, allowing those watching to follow along and participate more fully in the liturgy from home.

A timely call to peace

The vigil comes at a critical moment, as violence continues to escalate in the Middle East. In recent days, Pope Leo has spoken with increasing urgency about the dangers of war, describing it as a “scandal to humanity” and warning of the risk of a broader and devastating conflict.

He has called on world leaders, including those in the United States, to pursue dialogue over confrontation, emphasizing that peace cannot be built through weapons, but through encounter, negotiation, and respect for human dignity.

A global invitation to prayer

This vigil offers Catholics and all people of goodwill an opportunity to unite in prayer for peace worldwide.

As the light from Assisi shines during the vigil, it becomes more than a symbol; it is an invitation to pray, to hope, and to take up the responsibility of building peace in our own communities.