Pope Invites Church to Pray with God’s Word
At the start of the new year, Pope Leo XIV has placed renewed emphasis on prayer rooted in Sacred Scripture, releasing his January prayer intention and launching a new global initiative titled Pray with the Pope. The project brings the Pope’s monthly intentions to Catholics worldwide through accessible digital formats, building on the spiritual direction encouraged by his predecessors while adapting to contemporary communication. The initiative seeks to unite believers in shared prayer, inviting them to reflect more deeply on the Word of God as a living source of faith and discernment. By choosing Scripture as the focus of his first intention, Pope Leo highlighted prayer not as an isolated practice but as an encounter that shapes personal conscience and communal life. The message underscores a desire to help the faithful reconnect with the Gospel as a daily companion, capable of guiding hearts in an often restless and fragmented world.
In his first recorded message under the new format, Pope Leo spoke of the Gospel as the only source capable of bringing peace and fullness to the human heart. He described God’s Word as nourishment in times of weariness and hope in moments of darkness, offering strength to communities facing uncertainty. The Pope’s prayer asked that believers learn to listen attentively to Scripture each day, allowing it to challenge habits, inspire choices, and deepen closeness to Christ. He presented the Word of God not as an abstract text but as a living voice that forms faith and moves believers toward concrete acts of service. Through this emphasis, Pope Leo linked prayer with mission, encouraging Christians to let their encounter with Scripture lead them outward to forgiveness, bridge building, and care for the vulnerable.
The Pray with the Pope initiative also reflects a broader effort to make papal prayer intentions more visible and spiritually engaging across cultures. Designed to be simple and universal, the format allows individuals and communities to join the Pope in prayer regardless of location. Church leaders involved in the project have described it as an open invitation that strengthens unity within the global Church while fostering a shared rhythm of prayer. By highlighting Scripture as a privileged place to encounter Christ, the January intention calls Christians to rediscover the spiritual power of the Bible in personal and communal life. The initiative aims to deepen awareness that prayer with the Word is not reserved for specialists but belongs to the daily journey of every believer seeking meaning and direction.
The video accompanying the January intention was filmed in the Church of St Pellegrino, one of the oldest places of worship within Vatican City, long associated with pilgrimage and prayer. Its historical setting reinforces the continuity between tradition and the present moment, reflecting how ancient faith practices continue to speak to modern believers. By choosing this location, the Pope’s message visually connects Scripture, prayer, and the lived history of the Church. The invitation to pray with the Word of God stands as a call to renewal rooted in listening, encounter, and joyful proclamation. As the initiative begins, it signals a pastoral priority focused on deepening faith through Scripture, strengthening unity, and encouraging Christians to carry the Gospel into daily life with renewed conviction.
