Vatican City - May 2021 - On 1 May, at the Madonna del Soccorso in the Gregorian Chapel of the Vatican Basilica, Holy Father Francis presided over the recitation of the Holy Rosary that opened the prayer marathon on the theme “From the whole Church the prayer to God went up unceasingly. (Acts 12,5)” to invoke the end of the pandemic. The initiative, born at the Pope's wish, is promoted by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization and involves thirty Marian shrines from all over the world; each, for each day of the month of May, traditionally the Marian month, will lead the prayer of the Rosary for the whole Church. On May 31, Pope Francis will lead the recitation of the Rosary in the Vatican Gardens at the end of the prayer marathon.