The Diocese of Baton Rouge took Pope Francis up on his invitation for bishops to join him in consecrating Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on Friday.

"The Holy Father has invited all the Bishops of the world to join him on Friday, March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, to consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary," a release on the diocese's website said. "Our Bishop Michael Duca will lead the Diocese in this prayer beginning at 10:45 a.m. at St. Joseph's Cathedral with the praying of the Rosary followed by the Act of Consecration close to the time when the Holy Father is praying in Rome." 

Pope Francis sent a tweet last week saying that he will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary during a ceremony on Friday. 

Mary asked for Russia to be consecrated to Her Immaculate Heart when she appeared in Fatima in 1917, during World War I; a release on VaticanNews.va said. She warned that if it was not, "Russia would spread 'its errors throughout the world, promoting wars and persecution of the Church.'" Russia has been consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary several times since then, including in 1952 and 1964. 

The pope selected Friday as the day to perform the consecration because of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, and because that day marks the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. 

The Russian military invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 and has steadily attacked on multiple fronts, a recent CNBC.com report said. 

When Pope Francis announced his plans, he invited bishops the world over to join him in the consecration ceremony, a Vatican News report said. He will perform the consecration beginning at 5 p.m. Vatican time at St. Peter's Basilica.