Habemus Papam Franciscum!

His Holiness,

Pope Francis

Like many Catholics throughout the world, I was eagerly and anxiously awaiting the election of a new Pope to the hallowed Chair of St. Peter... while also offering many prayers to the Holy Spirit to guide the Cardinals in conclave.  So this morning as I was driving to work, I was overjoyed when a close friend of mine called and excitedly told me that white smoke had risen above the Sistine Chapel!  The first question I asked was, "Who is he?"... but of course the name of the new Pontiff hadn't been announced yet.

It wasn't until about 30 minutes after I arrived at my job, when I learned along with the rest of the world, that our new  spiritual leader was  an Argentinian who  had chosen the unprecedented name of - Pope Francis!

 

Joy welled up in my heart and I felt as though a refreshing breeze had suddenly blown through my soul.  "Francis" - after the great St. Francis of Assisi, who our Lord commissioned to "... repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin."  I already loved the man.

So I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me - to pray through me - for our dear Holy Father, while at the same time I grabbed a pen and started to quickly write the words, which flowed into my mind. The prayer that resulted is posted below and I invite all viewers who happen to stumble upon this blog to join me in praying for Pope Francis, who undoubtedly will need it in the coming times ahead. It doesn't have to be the prayer below... but any sincere prayer from the heart offered for the new Pontiff will suffice to aid him in his mission.  God bless him... and God bless us all, as well.  Habemus Papam Franciscum!

A Prayer for Pope Francis

O Heavenly Father, we thank you and

praise you for the gift of a new Pope for the

One, Holy, and Catholic Church. Pour out

your Holy Spirit upon him – Pope Francis –

that he may be abundantly filled with Sanctity,

Faith, Truth, and Love. May he also be an

inextinguishable light in the midst of the

darkness of this generation, leading the

Church and all peoples towards you.

Protect him from every harm and evil,

and strengthen him against adversity.

Furthermore, dear Father in Heaven,

open the hearts of all Christian believers –

Catholics and Non-Catholics - that we may

warmly welcome and embrace Pope Francis.

Help us to love and obey him as children

would their father, and to respect him as

the anointed Vicar of your Divine Son, Jesus

Christ. Confirm us in the belief that his

election is the fulfillment of your Holy Will

for the Church and the rest of the world, and

that through this Pope's guidance, the

Roman Catholic Church will continue to

flourish during his papal reign and

beyond… until the end of time.

Again we thank you, Heavenly

Father... we humbly offer this prayer

with Joy, Gratitude, and Trust in you.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah! 

Amen.