Prayer for the Pope
Updated: Oct 3
Catholics have always prayed for the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, who has the task of teaching, sanctifying, and governing the universal Church and of preserving its unity. The Pope is named in every Eucharistic Prayer at Mass, and praying for him personally is a simple act of love for the Church.
This traditional collect, used in the Mass and in old prayer books, asks God to help the Holy Father lead by word and example and reach eternal life together with the flock entrusted to him (say the Pope's name in place of N.). Pray it on the anniversary of his election, on the feast of the Chair of St. Peter (February 22), on Sts. Peter and Paul (June 29), and whenever the Church faces difficulty.
The Prayer
O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, look down favorably upon Thy servant N., whom Thou hast been pleased to appoint pastor of Thy Church; grant, we beseech Thee, that he may benefit both by word and example those over whom he is placed, and thus attain unto life eternal, together with the flock committed to his care. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sources: Traditional prayer for the Pope; Manual of Prayers, public domain.
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