The Catholic Church on earth now has a new visible head: Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope in history, and an Augustinian Friar.

As Catholics who are in the heart of the Church, we here at Catholicism.org submit with filial love to his august authority and pray for God’s abundant blessings on his Pontificate.

Please joining us in praying for him. Below is a recommended formula.

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Prayers for the Holy Father

(to be said after the Rosary)

V. Let us pray for our Pontiff, Pope Leo.
R. The Lord preserve him, and give him life, and make him to be blessed upon the earth, and deliver him not up to the will of his enemies (Roman Breviary).

Our Father. Hail Mary.

(From the old Raccolta: A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, when this prayer has been devoutly said every day for a month (S.C. Ind., Nov. 26, 1876; S. P. Ap., Oct 12, 1931).

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon Thy servant, Leo, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him, according to Thy loving-kindness, in the way of eternal salvation; that, of thy gift, he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee and may accomplish it with all his might. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen (Roman Ritual).

(From the old Raccolta: An indulgence of three years, a plenary indulgence once a month on the usual conditions, for the daily devout recitation of this prayer. S. P. Ap., March 10, 1935).

Saint Jacinta Marto of Fatima on Praying for the Holy Father

(from “Jacinta of Fatima: Suffering to Save Sinners,” by Benoit Bemelmans)

“I saw the Holy Father crying, and people insulting him”

On one very hot day, the children spent the siesta hour on the well at the back of the garden of Lucia’s house. Jacinta asked her cousin,

“Haven’t you seen the Holy Father?”

“No!”

“I do not know how it happened! I saw the Holy Father in a very large house, on his knees, in front of a table, with his hands on his face, crying. Outside the house were many people and some threw stones at him, others cursed and told him many ugly words. Poor little Holy Father! We have to pray a lot for Him!”

Another day, two priests who had gone to interrogate them explained who the Pope was and asked the children to pray for him. Jacinta then asked Lucia,

“Is he the same I saw crying, and of whom the Lady spoke in that secret?”

“Yes.”

“Certainly that Lady also showed him to these priests! See? I was not mistaken. We must pray a lot for him.”

In fact, Jacinta was taken with such a love for the Holy Father that every time she offered one of her sacrifices to Jesus, she added:

“And for the Holy Father.”

At the end of each rosary she always recited three Hail Marys for the pope and sometimes would say,

“I wish I could see the Holy Father! So many people come here and the Holy Father never comes.”

Another time, the three little shepherds had gone to their favorite rock hollows on Cabeço hill, where the angel had appeared to them. Prostrating with their foreheads on the ground, they fervently recited the prayer he had taught them. After a moment, Jacinta arose and asked,

“Don’t you see many roads, paths and fields full of people crying with hunger, who have nothing to eat? And the Holy Father in a church, praying before the Immaculate Heart of Mary? And many people praying with Him?”

After several days, she asked Lucia:

“Can I say that I have seen the Holy Father and all those people?”

“No. Don’t you see that it is part of the secret and they would soon discover it?”

“All right, then I won’t say anything.”