Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle leads international rosary in Rome

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led an international rosary at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome on Oct. 17, 2026. The event marked the 100th anniversary of World Mission Sunday and the 75th anniversary of the World Mission Rosary established by Blessed Fulton J. Sheen.

Participants recited the rosary in 13 languages across five mysteries representing Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and Oceania. The gathering brought together priests, religious, and lay faithful on the eve of World Mission Sunday.

During the event, Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu, a secretary at the Dicastery for Evangelization, told EWTN News that mission should focus on the Word of God rather than financial contributions. Cardinal Tagle serves as the dean of the College of Cardinals, the pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, and the Grand Chancellor of the university.