In the act of entrustment to Mary Most Holy of the Third Millennium, that Pope John Paul II prayed on 8 October 2000, in collegial unity with the Bishops who had come to Rome for their Jubilee, in the presence of the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima, we read: "…Today as never before in the past, humanity stands at the crossroads. And cone again salvation is all and only, O Holy Virgin, in your Son Jesus. Therefore, Mother, like the Apostle John, we desire to take you into our house (cf Jn 19, 27) to learn from you and become like your Son. "Woman behold your sons!" So we stand before you, to entrust to your maternal care ourselves, the Church, the entire world. Implore for us your beloved Son to give us u abundance the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth who is source of life. Welcome him for us and with us, like in the first communities in Jerusalem gathered around you on the day of Pentecost (cf Acts 1,14). May the Spirit open hearts to justice and love, lead persons and nations to reciprocal understanding and firm will for peace". In this Marian year the Year of the Rosary, this appeal made by the Holy Father to the Virgin Mary, is more timely than ever. Also the entire message of Fatima, as also other great interventions of God in history through Mary - show us clearly that the royal path to peace passes through the Immaculate hart of the Mother of God who, before and more than anyone, is committed on the side of conversion of peoples redeemed by her Son but who must be led back to the Son. The Queen of Peace, so invoked by his Holiness, especially in dark moments such as the present time, is not a passive onlooker of human choices, rather, she is, as Mother and Queen, actively present in the Church to open even the most obstinate hearts to the gift of forgiveness and peace. She reminds us with her discreet presence, that there can be no authentic peace without authentic forgiveness, unless man is reconciled with God, with neighbour and with himself. War and violence, division and hatred will never cease in the word unless we listen to the Heart of the Mother, formed by God himself, given by him to all of us to find the shortest, most direct and quickest way to the Cross of Christ, as we are taught by St Louis Grignion de Montfort. The path of Totus Tuus (entrustment and consecration to Mary of one's whole self) is the regal path to peace; may it become the path for each of us, a Lenten path of prayer and penance. Following the Mother we will find the Son. praying to her we will find Jesus. Prince of Peace give us through Maria, your peace! (Fides Service 25/3/2003 EM lines 32 Words: 500)