“On Friday, March 25, during the Celebration of Penance at which he will preside at 5 p.m. in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The same act, on the same day, will be carried out in Fatima by His Eminence Cardinal Krajewski, Apostolic Almoner, as envoy of the Holy Father.”

The consecration of Russia was requested by the Blessed Virgin at Fatima during the July 13, 1917 apparition. The request was accompanied by a threat, or warning, which predicted that if the act was not realized, Russia would spread its errors throughout the world, promoting wars and the persecution of the Church.

Our Heavenly Mother added that “the good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, various nations will be destroyed.”

The Various Acts Carried Out by the Popes

There were various acts of consecration in response to this demand during the 20th century. Pius XII, on October 31, 1942, consecrated the world, the Church, and humanity to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and, on July 7, 1952, he especially consecrated the peoples of Russia to this same Heart by the Letter Apostolic Sacro vergente anno:

“Just as a few years ago we consecrated the whole world to the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mother of God, we can read, today we consecrate, in a very special way, all the peoples of Russia to this same Immaculate Heart.”

On November 21, 1964, Paul VI renewed the consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart in the presence of the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council. Some have pointed out that the request had not been perfectly carried out by these two popes, since, according to Sister Lucy, all the bishops had to associate themselves with this act.

Pope John Paul II composed a prayer for an “act of consecration” of the world to be celebrated in the Basilica of St. Mary Major on June 7, 1981, the Solemnity of Pentecost. But on May 14, he was the victim of an attack in St. Peter’s Square, perpetrated by the Turk Ali Agça. He would finally accomplish this act on May 13, 1982, an act which would be renewed in 1983.

On March 25, 1984, in St. Peter’s Square, in spiritual union with the bishops of the whole world, informed in advance, Pope John Paul II renewed the act he had done alone the previous year. But in all these cases, the Pope did not mention Russia by name.

Finally, the last consecration of the world was made by Pope Francis on October 13, 2013.

Thus, on the Feast of the Annunciation, it will be a question of specifically consecrating Russia and Ukraine. This act certainly has a great symbolic force, and we can hope that the Immaculate Heart of Mary will answer the prayer of her children to put an end to the war. But above all, may our Heavenly Mother stop the spread of errors within the Church, which is much more urgent.