The Pope exhorts Catholics to "unite spiritually" in praying the Rosary of St. Joseph today

Amid the worsening conditions linked to the global outbreak of the coronavirus, Pope Francis urged Catholics to unite spiritually to pray the rosary simultaneously on the feast of St. Joseph.

The pope invited every family, every single Catholic and every religious community to pray the luminous mysteries on Thursday 19 March at 21:00 pm Rome time. The initiative was initially proposed by the bishops of Italy.

Taking into account the time difference, the time indicated by the pope would be Thursday at 13 pm for the faithful on the west coast.

The pope presented the request at the end of his weekly general audience on Wednesday, sent by the Vatican Apostolic Palace due to the national quarantine in force in Italy.

The following is a translation of the pope's remarks on the Rosary initiative:

Tomorrow we will celebrate the solemnity of Saint Joseph. In life, work, family, joy and pain he has always sought and loved the Lord, deserving the praise of Scripture as a just and wise man. Always invoke him with confidence, especially in difficult times, and entrust your life to this great saint.

I join the appeal of the Italian bishops who in this health emergency have promoted a moment of prayer for the entire country. Every family, every faithful, every religious community: all spiritually united tomorrow at 21 pm in the recitation of the Rosary, with the Mysteries of Light. I will accompany you from here.

We are guided to the luminous and transfigured face of Jesus Christ and His Heart by Mary, Mother of God, health of the sick, to whom we turn with the prayer of the Rosary, under the loving gaze of St. Joseph, Guardian of the Holy Family and our families. And we ask him to take special care of our family, our families, in particular the sick and the people who take care of them: doctors, nurses and volunteers, who risk their lives in this service.