Every Sunday at noon the Pope speaks from his window over St. Peter's square and recites the Angelus prayer. Many people attend this prayer. Angelus means "angel" in Latin. It is the name of a Christian devotion prayer in memory of the Incarnation. The Angelus is practiced by reciting as versicle and response three Biblical verses describing the mystery; alternating with a "Hail Mary". The Angelus is a kind of prayer called the prayer of the devotee.

The devotion was traditionally recited in Roman Catholic churches, convents, and monasteries three times a day: 6:00 am, 12:00 am, and 6:00 pm .The Angelus is also used by some Anglican and Lutheran churches. The prayer of the Angelus is attributed by some to Pope Urban II. Others attribute it to Pope John XXII. The triple recitation has been connected to Louis XI in 1472. The prayer was standardized in the 17th century.

The Angelus is accompanied normally by the ringing of the Angelus bell. The ringing is a call to pray and spread good-will to everyone on Earth. The angel referred to in the prayer is Gabriel, the messenger of God who told the Madonna that she would conceive a child who will be the Son of God.