Loving God:

As Francis, our beloved pope, suffers from grave illnesses,
we come before you in prayer.

We ask you to look with mercy on your servant Francis,
who has served you devotedly and tirelessly
as a Jesuit, a priest, an archbishop, a cardinal and as pope.

Most of all, he has served you as a faithful Christian
sharing the love, mercy and compassion that your Son
showed to all he encountered in his public ministry,
especially those who were poor or in any way struggling.

During his papacy, Francis has striven to imitate your Son
by reaching out to all who were feeling abandoned, ignored or neglected,
making it his special task to care for those who were in any way sick.

As Francis himself now faces serious and complex illnesses,
help the doctors, nurses and medical team who care for him,
help him bear any pain with grace and help him to heal quickly.

Send your Holy Spirit, your own breath, into his weakened lungs
to heal him, inspire him and raise him up again
so that he may live out his vocation as the Vicar of Christ.

But if it is your will, loving God, to take him to yourself,
let his passing into new life be painless and peaceful.
We ask all this in your Holy Name.

Amen

Fr James Martin SJ