The Pope greets Worldwide Prayer Network international director Father Cristóbal Fones during the latter’s visit to the Vatican with his member. (Photo from the Vatican Media)
VATICAN CITY, Rome — Highlighting the importance of gaining closer relationship with the Risen Christ, Pope Leo XIV is inviting the global youth to join his World Prayer Network and become intercessors for the needs of the world.
Leo met recently with the leadership and members of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, thanking them for their work and encouraging them to continue in inviting young people to take part in their mission, so that they may grow closer to God.
“It is especially important to invite young people to take part so that they may form the next generation of intercessors for the needs of the whole world,” the Pope stressed in his address to the group.
He reasoned that “(since many young people) are searching for a more profound and personal relationship with the Risen Jesus, the Eucharistic Youth Movement can be a particularly fruitful path to help them grow in a deeper intimacy with our Lord.”
Underscoring this important mission, he urged the participants “to foster an even greater participation in this Network, which unites diverse cultures, languages, and charisms in the common mission.”
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Pontifical Work entrusted to the Society of Jesus that releases every month the Pope’s prayer intention, which is rooted in the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus and focuses on challenges facing humanity and the Church.
The American pontiff highlighted how this spirituality allows the Network and its members “to know our Lord more intimately and to be more compassionate and empathetic” as they “offer prayerful support for those in need.”
“It is my hope that through your apostolate you will continue to help the baptized to understand that they are friends and apostles of Christ,” he emphasized as he cited that prayer is an integral part of the Church.
The Pope gave importance to the Network’s “efforts to disseminate” his prayer intentions “to the tens of millions of people (. . .) who each day present these needs before God.”
“Such prayer is not external to the evangelical work of the Body of Christ, but an integral part of it,” he asserted.
In ending, Leo thanked in particular the International Director of the Network, Father Cristóbal Fones, as well as the Vice Directors, Bettina Raed and Father Miguel Melo, and all the members and partners who support this mission.