The official release of the prayer & video for Pope Leo's October prayer intention

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• prayer
• medicine & health

Pope’s October prayer intention: ‘For mental health ministry’

Pope Leo XIV dedicates his October prayer intention to mental health ministry, calling on the Church to listen without judging and accompany those who suffer without excluding them.

By Francesca Merlo

Pope Leo has released the “Pray with the Pope” video accompanying his prayer intention for the month of October 2026: “For mental health ministry.”

In the video, produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the Pope prays that the Church may be an “open house” where people facing challenges to their mental health find welcome, dignity and hope.

Holding an image of Saint Dymphna, patroness of people suffering from mental disorders and of mental health professionals, he addresses the “God of life”, who knows the innermost depths of our hearts and “the silent wounds that sometimes no one sees.”

“Today we bring before you our brothers and sisters who struggle with challenges to their mental health, who suffer in solitude with anxiety, depression, or any other mental illness,” he prays.

Pope Leo asks forgiveness for the times when Christians have looked the other way, contributing to stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses.

He prays that the Church may become “a safe space where everyone has a place - a community that accompanies and never excludes, that listens without judging and draws near without fear.”

The Pope also remembers those who provide care, including professionals, family members and volunteers, asking God to give them strength and compassion.

“Send your Spirit upon us, that we may learn to welcome and integrate care for mental health into the life and ministry of our communities and of the whole Church,” he concludes, “and thus become a living sign of your mercy, which never abandons and always restores.”

Accompanying without judging

According to the press release accompanying the Pope’s intention, more than a billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder, while public spending on mental health accounts for barely two percent of health budgets.

Fr. Cristóbal Fones, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, notes that many people experiencing mental illness have felt unable to speak about it, or have encountered judgement and misunderstanding.

“That is why, as a Church, we come together to open our hearts to this reality and to pray together, throughout this entire month, for all of them and also for those who accompany them,” he says.

The press release also highlights the work of Catholic mental health ministries, universities, parishes and support groups already accompanying people and their families.

On the eve of our nations 250th; a prayer from the 1st American Archbishop

 

As the United States celebrates 250 years, let us pray,

Prayer for Our Government  by Archbishop John Carroll (1791) We pray, O almighty and eternal God, who through Jesus Christ has revealed thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of your mercy, that your Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of your name. We pray Thee, who alone are good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, the pope, the vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, all other bishops, prelates and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct your people into the ways of salvation. We pray O God of might, wisdom and justice, through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the president of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness and be eminently useful to your people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty. We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by your powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability. We recommend likewise, to your unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of your most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal. Finally, we pray to you, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of your servants departed, who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech you, a place of refreshment, light and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Pray for Pope Leo's special intention for the month of July

 

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for 2026

July

For respect for human life
Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.

Pray the intention for June of Pope Leo XIV

 

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for 2026

June

For the values of sports
Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.

Pope Leo XIV appeals for cease fire; calls for dialogue in Middle East war

 

A US-Israeli attack on the Iranian city of Isfahan  (AFP or licensors)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• appeal
• Iran
• United Kingdom
• Israel
• war
• peace

Pope appeals for ceasefire and dialogue in Middle East war

Pope Leo XIV urges all those responsible for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to agree to a ceasefire and reopen paths of dialogue.

By Linda Bordoni and Nathan Morley

Addressing those responsible for the ongoing conflict between the U.S. and Israel and Iran, Pope Leo XIV on Sunday launched an appeal “in the name of the Christians of the Middle East and of all women and men of goodwill: Cease the fire! Let paths of dialogue be reopened!"

“Violence can never lead to the justice, the stability and the peace that peoples are awaiting,” he said.

As he turned to the faithful after the recitation of the Angelus Prayer, the Pope recalled that “the peoples of the Middle East have been suffering the atrocious violence of war" for two weeks.

“Thousands of innocent people have been killed, and many others have been forced to abandon their homes. I renew my prayerful closeness to all those who have lost their loved ones in the attacks that have struck schools, hospitals, and residential areas," he added.

Pope Leo also expressed great concern for the situation in Lebanon.

“I hope for paths of dialogue that can support the country’s authorities in implementing lasting solutions to the serious crisis underway, for the common good of all the Lebanese people.

The destruction in a suburb in southern Beirut after an Israeli strike  (AFP or licensors)

Civilians feel the brunt of brutal Iran conflict

The spillover from the conflict involving Iran has intensified across the Middle East, with civilians in Iran and Lebanon among the worst affected.

Twelve medical workers were killed on Friday when an Israeli strike hit a health centre in southern Lebanon. The head of the World Health Organization condemned the attack, describing the deaths as “unacceptable”. Lebanon’s health ministry says more than 800 people have been killed in Israeli air strikes since the fighting escalated, and more than 800,000 have been displaced from their homes. 

Israel says it is targeting areas where it accuses Hezbollah of storing weapons and coordinating attacks. Hezbollah began firing rockets towards northern Israel in support of Iran shortly after the conflict began.

Meanwhile, in Iran, at least 15 people were reported killed on Saturday in strikes on an industrial zone in the central province of Isfahan. Iranian authorities, the Iranian Red Crescent and several rights groups estimate that between 1,230 and 1,300 civilians have been killed since the start of the US–Israel campaign. The figures have not been independently verified.

One of the deadliest incidents occurred on 28 February, the first day of the conflict, when a missile destroyed a girls’ elementary school in Minab. Iranian media say between 168 and 180 people were killed, most of them children.

Meanwhile, regional tensions have continued to widen. Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry says it has intercepted and destroyed seven drones over Riyadh and the Eastern Region. Authorities in Dubai and Qatar also reported air-defence interceptions on Sunday, while Kuwait said a drone strike had damaged radar systems at its international airport. Israel’s military says it has intercepted missiles launched from Iran in the early hours of Sunday morning. Emergency services reported that the barrage was aimed at central Israel.

Amid all this, the US embassy in Baghdad has issued a new warning for American citizens to leave Iraq after a missile struck the embassy compound on Saturday. In its statement, the embassy said US nationals should “leave Iraq now”.

How timely; pray with Pope Leo XIV his March prayer intention

 

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for 2026

March

For disarmament and peace
Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

Pope Leo XIV renews urgent call for peace in the ongoing war against Ukraine

 

Aftermath of overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv and surrounding districts  (ANSA)

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• appeal
• peace
• Ukraine

Pope Leo: Peace is urgently needed, requiring responsible decisions

After the Angelus prayer, the Pope strongly renewed his appeal for the silencing of arms and the cessation of bombings. "Let an immediate ceasefire be reached and let dialogue be strengthened to pave the way toward peace," said the Pope, marking four years since the start of the war against Ukraine. Peace cannot be postponed, he emphasized: "Every war is truly a wound inflicted upon the entire human family; it leaves in its wake death, devastation and a trail of pain that marks generations."

By Antonella Palermo

"Let the weapons fall silent, let the bombings cease, let an immediate ceasefire be reached, and let dialogue be strengthened to pave the way toward peace."

Four years after the start of the war against Ukraine, the Pope’s heart went out to the people living through such suffering devastation, which Pope Leo recalled following the Angelus prayer from the Apostolic Palace window, a war that is "unfolding before the eyes of the whole world."

“So many victims, so many lives and families shattered, such immense destruction, such unspeakable suffering! Every war is truly a wound inflicted upon the entire human family; it leaves in its wake death, devastation and a trail of pain that marks generations. Peace cannot be postponed. It is an urgent necessity that must find a home in our hearts and be translated into responsible decisions.”

United in prayer

The Pope strongly encouraged everyone to "join in prayer for the embattled people of Ukraine and for all those who suffer due to this war and every conflict in the world, that the long-awaited gift of peace may shine upon our days."

Repeated appeals for peace

Today’s appeal, on the fourth anniversary of the start of Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, carries a bitter aftertaste, but nonetheless continues to keep hope alive. This has been the case since the poignant pleas of Pope Francis for peace in the heart of Europe were consistently raised, accompanied by his great concern for the martyred Ukrainian people. This expression has become familiar to many. The pleas were reiterated by Leone XIV right after his election when he called the war "senseless" and emphasized the urgency of reaching "an authentic, just, and lasting peace as soon as possible."

The release of all prisoners and the return of children to their families have been recurring themes in the Pope’s prayers. Now, the intense cold of winter, which exacerbates the damage caused by the bombings, particularly concerns him. “May the clamor of weapons cease, and may the parties involved, with the support and commitment of the international community, find the courage to engage in sincere, direct and respectful dialogue” he stated in his Christmas Urbi et Orbi message.

Heartfelt solidarity with the victims of war

Continuing the solidarity shown by his predecessor for the Ukrainian population, Pope Leo has sent repeated humanitarian assistance from the Papal Almoner to Ukraine. He also spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, received associations working closely with war victims, mothers and wives of Ukrainian soldiers at the front, children and young people deprived of opportunities. He has also met with beneficiaries of emergency refuge, and met with Ukrainian pilgrims, praising the faith of a land rich with "the testimony of many saints" and "the blood of many martyrs."

During an audience with Ukrainian President Zelensky last December, he reiterated the Holy See’s willingness to host negotiations. He has even contemplated a visit to Kyiv, though he acknowledged the necessity of prudent realism. In the face of the escalation of an increasingly hybrid conflict, with significant damage to civilians and infrastructure, upon returning from his first international trip, he emphasized the importance of European and Italian involvement. “Serious commitment to dialogue,” he hoped for at the end of August, while, for the anniversary of Ukraine’s national holiday, he expressed "with a heart wounded by violence" his condolences to the families of the fallen and to the displaced people.

Praying with Pope Leo's Intention for February

 

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for 2026

POPE LEO XIV PRAYER INTENTION FOR FEBRUARY 2026

February: For children with incurable diseases

Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope.  Amen.

December Prayer Intention of Pope Leo XIV for the Universal Church

 

December

For Christians in areas of conflict

Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.

After the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Leo turned his attention to Myanmar

 

People's Liberation Army PLA members carry an injured person near Sagaing Region in Myanmar  (A)

Pope

• Myanmar
• appeal
• Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo: Pray for victims of war, do not forget people of Myanmar

Pope Leo XIV invites the faithful to pray for people suffering in countries at war, praying in particular for Myanmar, which has been ravaged by years of civil conflict and internal unrest.

By Francesca Merlo

At the conclusion of his General Audience on Wednesday, Pope Leo turned his thoughts to those who continue to suffer amid the world’s many armed conflicts.

"I invite you," he said, "to join me in prayer for all who are tried by the violence of war in different parts of the world."

In particular, Pope Leo prayed for the people of Myanmar, urging the international community "not to forget the Burmese people and to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance."

The Pope's prayers for Myanmar came as the country continues to face one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Nearly five years since the military seized power in a coup that ousted the democratically elected government, civil conflict has caused the death of thousands of people and the displacement of three million more.

What began as mass protests against the coup in 2021 turned into violent clashes between pro-democracy forces and ethnic armed groups against the military junta.

Entire villages have been destroyed by airstrikes and fighting, while millions more lack access to food, medicine, and shelter. The United Nations estimates that over half of Myanmar’s population now requires humanitarian assistance.

The Rohingya crisis

However, the dire situation in Myanmar dates back to before the 2021 coup. The civilian government deposed by the military had faced international condemnation for its handling of the Rohingya crisis, during which members of the Muslim minority were subjected to extreme and systematic violence.

When Myanmar’s military began its campaign in August 2017, it involved widespread killings, sexual violence, torture, and the destruction of entire villages. The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar described the military’s actions as being carried out with “genocidal intent.”

By early 2018, more than 700,000 Rohingya had fled to neighboring Bangladesh, joining those displaced from earlier waves of persecution. Those who remain in Myanmar’s Rakhine State continue to face severe restrictions on movement, denial of citizenship, and life in apartheid-like conditions.

The violence was perpetrated primarily by the same military that later seized power in 2021. However, the civilian government at the time failed to act.

The international community condemned these acts, but the generals responsible faced little to no accountability.

Just four years later, in February 2021, the same generals - led by Min Aung Hlaing - staged a coup d’état, overthrowing the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. They expected to consolidate control quickly. Instead, they provoked an unprecedented wave of nationwide resistance.

Since then, the military has used the same brutal tactics it deployed against the Rohingya, this time against all the people of Myanmar. The people of Myanmar, of every ethnicity and faith, have therefore endured years of oppression, discrimination, and loss under successive regimes.

Pray with Pope Leo XIV all month long

 

The Pope's Monthly Intentions for 2025

November

For the prevention of suicide
Let us pray that those who are struggling with suicidal thoughts might find the support, care, and love they need in their community, and be open to the beauty of life.

The Bishops of the Antilles ask for prayers and solidarity ahead of Hurricane Melissa

 

Jamaicans make preparations ahead of the arrival of Hurricane Melissa 

World

• Central America
• natural disasters
• Cuba
• Haiti
• Dominican Republic
• bishops
• bishops' conference

Antilles Bishops call for prayer and solidarity in the wake of Hurricane Melissa

The Antilles Episcopal Conference calls for prayers and solidarity with the populations affected by Hurricane Melissa.

By Isabella H. de Carvalho

The Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) issued a press release on Sunday, October 26, calling for prayers and solidarity with the populations affected by Hurricane Melissa, a powerful category 5 storm expected to make landfall on Tuesday.

“As Hurricane Melissa continues to move slowly through the central Caribbean with the threat of severe destruction, […] I invite all the faithful of the Caribbean to unite in fervent prayer for our sisters and brothers in Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic,” Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon of Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) and President of the AEC, wrote in the statement, which was shared on the body’s Facebook page.

“We especially hold in our hearts the people of the Archdiocese of Kingston under the pastoral care of Archbishop Kenneth Richards, and the Dioceses of Mandeville and Montego Bay led by Bishop John Persaud,” the statement continued. “May the Lord protect them and all communities in the hurricane’s path from harm.”

In July 2025 the AEC published a Pastoral Letter on Natural Disasters titled “In the Eye of the Hurricane: Living the Rhythm of Natural Disasters in the Caribbean with Faith, Solidarity, and Hope”, that included reflections on how the Church and the faithful can respond to these increasingly frequent occurrences. According to the BBC, Melissa is the 13th hurricane in this year’s Atlantic season, which lasts from June to November.

“In the face of such trials, ‘our shared vulnerability calls us to deeper faith, solidarity and stewardship of creation’”, Archbishop Gordon wrote, citing the Pastoral Letter. “Let us live that call now – supporting one another through prayer, compassion and concrete acts of generosity”.

1.6 million children at risk

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned that at least 1.6 million children are at risk as Hurricane Melissa slowly moves through the Caribbean, in a statement published on Sunday, October 26.

“All efforts to prepare for the arrival of hurricane are vital to mitigate damage and loss of life in the most vulnerable communities, especially in regions like the Caribbean. Small islands always face heightened vulnerability to extreme climate events,” said Roberto Benes Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. “UNICEF helps strengthen national capacities to anticipate and respond to climate-related emergencies, and to deliver essential services for children. This is fundamental to protecting those who need it most.”

The statement highlights that “over the past decade, approximately 11 million people, including nearly 4 million children, were directly affected each year by natural and human-made hazards in Latin America and the Caribbean.”

UNICEF, in partnership with national authorities, has been working on the ground to help populations prepare for the storm, for example by providing essential supplies or sharing early warning messages.

Vatican releases video for the Pope's September Prayer Intention

 

Pope

• Pope Leo XIV
• prayer
• season of creation

Pope's September prayer intention: For our relationship with creation

In his prayer intention for September 2025, Pope Leo XIV invites us to pray that we might experience our interdependence with all creatures, who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.

By Christopher Wells

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for September 2025 is for “our relationship with all of creation.

In this month’s Pope Video, the Holy Father invites us to pray that “inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.”

The prayer that follows emphasizes God’s love for all of creation, noting that “nothing exists outside” of His “tenderness” and recalling God’s care for “even the simplest or shortest life.” “Like St Francis of Assisi, today we too want to say, ‘Praised be You, my Lord” – alluding, too, to Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on the care of creation which begins with those very words.

Pope Leo’s prayer goes on speak of “the beauty of creation” as a revelation of God “as the source of goodness,” and asks Him to “open our eyes to recognize you, learning from the mystery of your closeness to all creation that the world is infinitely more than a problem to solve.” Instead, the Pope says, “It is a mystery to be contemplated with gratitude.”

The Holy Father concludes his prayer with a plea to God to “help us discover Your presence in all creation, so that, in fully recognizing it, we may feel and know ourselves to be responsible for our common home where You invite us to care for, respect, and protect life in all its forms and possibilities.”

Living a moment of gratitude

In a press release accompanying the prayer, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network – which is responsible for preparing each month’s intention – notes that “the video comes out within the context of the Season of Creation, an ecumenical period from September 1 to October 4 (the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) that unites Christians from various denominations in prayer and action for the care of the earth.”

This year’s Season of Creation takes place as the Church marks both the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’ “Canticle of Creation” and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato sí.

“The Jubilee of Hope and the 10th anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si’ invite us to live a moment of gratitude, commitment to and care for our common home,” says Cardinal Michael Czerny, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Development, which supported the production of this month’s Pope Video.

An interconnected world

Commenting on this month’s intention, the International Director of the Prayer Netword, Father Cristóbal Fones, S.J., explains that this month’s prayer intention “reminds us how interconnected our world is. Our well-being cannot be separated from other creatures living on earth, or from the ‘state of health’ of our planet.”

“This month,” Father Fones continues, “the Pope invites us to reflect on how our actions affect nature, God’s work, and to seek ways of living that foster the restoration and natural balance and harmony between human beings and the environment. In the midst of such a competitive, hectic world, dominated by consumerism, a large part of humanity deeply longs to live well, closer to and more respectful of nature – a style of life that would allow us to contemplate it in an attentive silence that leads to an encounter with ourselves, with God and with others.”