SHEPHERD IN OUR PRAYERS Lifting Pope Francis in faith, hope, and love ...

“Pray for me.”

Reflection

Pope Francis has always reminded us of the great power of prayer. Time and time again, he has asked, “Pray for me.” Now, as he recovers in hospital, we have the opportunity to respond with faith and love. Throughout his leadership, he has challenged us to live with compassion, to stand up for the vulnerable, and to bring hope to the world. In this moment, we can return that gift by surrounding him with our prayers. As a global Church, as Catholic school communities, and as people of faith, let us unite in lifting up our shepherd, asking for strength, healing, and peace. May our prayers be a source of comfort for him, just as his words and witness have been a source of encouragement to us.

Story A group of young students once wrote letters to Pope Francis, thanking him for his kindness and his courage in speaking up for those in need. To their surprise, he wrote back! His message was very simple: “Pray for me.” Those three words remind us that no one is beyond the need for prayer – not even the Pope himself. Now, as he recovers in hospital, we are invited to take up that request with open hearts and strong faith.

Prayer

God living among us, you have called Pope Francis to lead with humility, courage and love. As he faces this time of recovery, we pray for his strength, for the hands of those who care for him, and for the peace of knowing that he is surrounded by the prayers of people all around the world. May he continue to be a voice of hope, a witness to Your love, and a reminder of the joy of the Gospel. Amen.

Blessing

May the healing presence of God surround Pope Francis, may the wisdom of the Spirit guide those who care for him, and may we, as a global Church, walk with him in prayer, sharing his hope, his courage, and his witness.

Amen.

We are a team of 1.4 billion and Pope Francis leads our team - his simply message is Pray for me and so our challenge is to do just that!