Praying with Pope Francis

Easter Season is the time to welcome the “newness that God wants to bring into our lives.” In his Easter Vigil homily, the new Pope prayed that God “open[s] us to the newness that transforms, to the beautiful surprises of God.”

Since Benedict XVI announced his resignation on February 11^th, the Holy Spirit has been the “principle agent” at work “in everything that has occurred”. The Spirit “prompted the decision of Benedict XVI for the good of the Church; he guided the Cardinals in prayer and in the election.” The Spirit of the Risen Christ is bringing about “the newness of God”, eliciting renewed hope in many people and ushering a new springtime in the Church.

Let us heed Jesuit Father General Adolfo Nicolás’ counsel to “pray with [the Pope] and for him.” Let us “behold, new things have come” (2 Cor 5:17).

Click here for a prayer for the Pope

Following Father Nicolás intuition that “Pope Francis feels deeply Jesuit,” we can pray using the following seven Ignatian themes that can be gleaned so far from the words and actions of Pope Francis:

Theme 1: Journeying

More contented will be gradually added to these themes in the coming two weeks:

Theme 2: Befriending & Conversing from the Heart

Theme 3: Imagining

Theme 4: Remembering

Theme 5: Intimacy with Jesus, poor and humble

Theme 6: Serving

Theme 7: Close to Mary