The Pope has asked to his Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network to help all the faithful to pray more intensely for the Church this October. He invites us to pray every day the Holy Rosary with the intention that the Virgin Mary help the Church in these times of crisis, and to pray each day to St. Michael the Archangel that he defend us against the attacks of the Devil. According to spiritual tradition, Michael is the chief of the celestial armies and the protector of the Church (Revelation 12:7-9).
Pope Francis invites us at the conclusion of the Rosary with that most ancient invocation to the Holy Mother of God, “Sub Tuum Praesidium” as well as the traditional prayer to St. Micheal ascribed to Pope Leo the XIII. With this invitation, Pope Francis gives us a key to interpreting the current situation: the spiritual combat. It may be good to make known chapter V of Gaudete et Exsultate, on “spiritual combat, vigilance and discernment”.
We have launched a special campaign to respond to the Pope request and support all those who want to make known this call.
The Official website: www.prayforthechurch.org
You will find other materials and local proposals made by our national offices in the world. You can find the contacts for all the countries following this link: https://www.popesprayer.net/apeym/
We thank all the dioceses, groups and ecclesial movements that are supporting this prayer campaign for the Church.
On behalf of Paolo Ruffini, the Prefect of our Dicastery, and Fr. Frederic Fornos SJ, the International Director of the Pope’s World Network of Prayer, thank you for the diffusion you are willing to give to this campaign.
Nataša Govekar
Dicastery for Communication, Theological-Pastoral Department – Director