Prayers for Syria- Also Plans at the Vatican for Today

Prayers for Syria, as well as ideas and suggestions are to be found at Pax Christi

Pope Francis' prayer vigil will be preceded by the hearing of Confessions, beginning in the evening at 5:45 in St. Peter's Square. There will be 50 priests available for Confession under the colonnades of the square.

Then at 6:30, Pope Francis' Sept. 1 allocution calling for the day of fasting and prayer will be read to introduce the vigil.

Pope Francis will begin the prayer at 7:00, and the Veni Creator Spiritus will be sung.

Four Swiss Guards will carry a statue of Mary, Protectress of the Roman People, starting from the obelisk in the square, accompanied by two girls strewing flowers before her.

The Roman Pontiff will then begin praying the rosary, invoking the intercession at each mystery of Our Lady, Queen of Peace.

There will then be a meditation by the Pope, followed by a minute of silence and Eucharistic Adoration.

The vigil will also include readings from the Bible, and responsorial prayers for peace.

After Adoration, there will be three minutes of silence followed by the recitation of the Office of Readings, part of the Liturgy of the Hours.

At 10:15 there will be a period of extended, prayerful silence, and the vigil will conclude later with Benediction.