Today on this Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time our thoughts and prayers turn to Pope Francis as he remains hospitalized with double pneumonia and anemia. He continues to be treated at Gemelli hospital in Rome and had a restful night but is still in critical condition.
In our Gospel today we are called by Jesus to love our
neighbor and pray for those who persecute us. In our world today so much is
happening that sometimes it is hard to remember to pray for all we need to. Our
loving God hears our prayers and knows our needs. We need to trust that our God
is always with us. Let us continue to pray for our world, one another, and
ourselves that we might be Christ for one another.
Prayer for Pope Francis
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
look favorably on your servant Francis,
whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
Grant, we pray, that by word and example
he may be of service to those over whom he presides
so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
he may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the
unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.