Millions of Catholics around the world took part in an hour of simultaneous Eucharistic adoration today. In possibly the largest worldwide act of prayer in history, Catholics prayed before the Blessed Sacrament in parish churches and cathedrals in every inhabited continent. Pope Francis presided at Eucharistic adoration and Benediction in St Peter's Basilica in Rome. Catholics taking part in the global Holy Hour prayed for two intentions chosen by the Holy Father. The first was for the Church, that it would be "ever more obedient" to the Word of the Lord "in order to stand before the world ‘ever more beautiful, without stain or blemish, but holy and blameless'". The second was for "victims of war, human trafficking, drug running and slave labour", as well as "the unemployed, the elderly, migrants, the homeless, prisoners, and those who experience marginalisation".