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Praying with the Church
​Originally known as the Apostleship of Prayer, the network was created as a Jesuit initiative in 1844. In 2016, Pope Francis renamed the Apostleship of Prayer to the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network. He raised it to the status of a pontifical work in 2018 and made it a Vatican Foundation with canonical and juridical status in 2020.
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The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network addresses the challenges facing humanity and assists the mission of the Church.
Monthly Intention
JANUARY
For prayer with the Word of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
January 2026 Video released 7th January
How Are The Prayer Intentions Chosen?
The faithful from around the world suggest papal prayer intentions in each country to their national office, which selects some of them and sends those to the international office of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in Vatican City. Through prayerful discernment the international office selects a large number of them and submits them to the Pope to help his discernment. After his prayer and discernment he entrusts to the International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network the official set of monthly prayer intentions, which are then translated into the major world languages and published in print and digital formats.
2026 Prayer Intentions
Click on image above to view the Pope's Prayer Intentions in more detail
The Pope entrusts his Worldwide Prayer Network each month with prayer intentions that express his deep concerns for humanity and the mission of the Church. His monthly prayer intention is a global call to transform our prayers into "concrete actions," serving as a compass for a mission of compassion for the world. In this way, he proposes a path to mobilize us each month, through prayer and action, for a more humane, fraternal, and solidary world.
JANUARY
For prayer with the Word of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.
FEBRUARY
For children with incurable diseases. Let us pray that children suffering from incurable diseases and their families receive the necessary medical care and support, never losing strength and hope.
MARCH
For disarmament and peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.
APRIL
For priests in crisis. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.
MAY
That everyone might have food. Let us pray that everyone, from large producers to small consumers, be committed to avoid wasting food, and to ensure that everyone has access to quality food.
JUNE
For the values of sports. Let us pray that sports be an instrument of peace, encounter, and dialogue among cultures and nations, and that they promote values such as respect, solidarity, and personal growth.
JULY
For respect for human life. Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.
AUGUST
For evangelization in the city. Let us pray that in large cities often marked by anonymity and loneliness we find new ways to proclaim the Gospel, discovering creative paths to build community.
SEPTEMBER
For the care of water. Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.
OCTOBER
For mental health ministry. Let us pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.
NOVEMBER
For the proper use of wealth. Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service the common good and solidarity of those who have less.
DECEMBER
For single-parent families. Let us pray for families experiencing the absence of a mother or father, that they may find support and accompaniment in the Church, and help and strength in the Faith during difficult times.
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Intentions for 2027
