why does friar agree to help romeo

Friar Lawrence agrees to help Romeo because he hopes that the marriage between Romeo and Juliet will end the violent feud between the Montague and Capulet families and bring peace to Verona. As a wise and compassionate advisor trusted by both families, Friar Lawrence believes that their union could transform the "households' rancor to pure love." Despite his initial shock at Romeo's sudden change of heart from Rosaline to Juliet, he marries them in secret with the optimistic intention that their alliance might reconcile the families. However, while he acts with good intentions, some of his decisions, like keeping the marriage secret and devising risky plans, contribute to later tragic events in the play.