Pope Francis has given his backing the planned mass rosary prayer along the coast of Britain planned for Sunday, April 29. Archbishop Edward Adams, apostolic nuncio to the United Kingdom, said that the Pope “presents His greetings to all those persons participating in the Rosary on the Coast for Faith, Life and Peace in Scotland, England and Wales… assuring them of His spiritual closeness to them in their prayers.” The Pope imparted his Apostolic Blessing on all those who participate in the event “as a pledge under the protection of Our Blessed Lady, Mary Mother of the Church.” The Rosary on the Coast follows similar mass prayer events in Ireland and Poland last year. Organisers say the rosary will help combat the “present threats to faith, the dignity of the human person and to peace”, and encourage a “re-flourishing of our Faith” in the British Isles. The event in Poland saw hundreds of thousands of Catholics gather at around 4,000 locations to commemorate the centenary of the apparitions at Fatima, and implore protection for their homeland and for the world. Last month, Cardinal Vincent Nichols sent his best wishes to organisers of the British rosary, while Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth thanked them for “this important witness to the Truth of faith in Christ and to the power of prayer which by God’s grace will surely bring much goodness.” “Our culture is facing so many challenges at this moment, not least to the sound values that underpin our family and social life.” “May Mary’s prayers win our land back to the Lord,” he added.