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In these days of uncertainty about the health of Pope Francis media reports with concern, requests for prayer and speculations fill the headlines.
But what to pray?
I noticed a few comments on social media posts praying for his full recovery and return to ministry.
I wondered why I struggled with this and found myself unable to pray this prayer.
Then I realised that the pope is 88 after decades of full-time life and fruitful ministry, and a transformative dozen years as pope.
In recent months he has been unable to move easily using a wheelchair for most of the last couple of years.
His breathing difficulties have been evident and he has been able to read his own homilies and speeches.
He is in hospital with lung and kidney infections.
And yesterday an American cardinal commented that the pope “is probably close to death.”
A couple of years ago he was asked if he was afraid of death. His response was a clear “No! Not at all!”
When each of my parents (in their early seventies) became seriously ill, I strangely found myself unable to pray for their full and fast recovery, even thought this was what I (perhaps selfishly) wanted.
Instead, the heart of the Lord’s Prayer became my prayer: Lord, thy will be done.
And while deeply grieving when my mother died aged 70, and my 74 year old father died one year to the day later, I knew that God’s will was done and that they were at peace.
So what am I praying for Papa Francis?
Lord, your will be done.
I’m a healthy 85 . but when my hour comes , l only asked of my family is to prayer The Lords prayer. lord thy will be done
Yes, if we truly believe that God waits to take this Holy man home this will be our Prayer and if we believe Prayer connects us then at this Holy Hour, we could ask that Pope Francis, as he surely will be, ask God to watch over his Church. May eternal life be his reward whenever God takes him to himself.
That’s exactly what I am praying for also John, not just for our Pope, but all of us as we pass the age of being considered too young to die! God alone has allotted the days we have, and it His time, not ours when we will be called home.
Death, is not the end, but a new beginning. Thanks be to God!!
I agree with you John
At 87 with a recent history of pulmonary embolism and previous heart related and sepsis incidents I feel great empathy with Pope Francis and I have been praying for him along the lines of Thy Will Be Done, and for his faith and spirituality to sustain him.
Absolutely agree with all of the above. Though have to confess that there’s a sneaky little place in my heart that would love Il Papa to go on forever.
Beautifully written John and yes, I totally concur with your prayer and all that your personal experience has brought to it. God bless, Joy
You prayer and comments are so well expressed. We are human, and that is where the (selfish) wee wish for anyone we love not to leave us sneaks in. However, our Lord’s will, not ours must be done…along with thousands of others, I will be sad when we no longer have Papa Francis leading us…but I know he, a good and faithful Servant, will be with God.
May he be comfortable and gently cared for in his illness.
I’ve just realised I have been praying for the healing of Pope Francis mainly because I am afraid. I am afraid for our Church: what will it’s future be without his leadership? I know there have been (are?) many who have not wished to travel the same path as he. I am afraid for The Future. Not my future; I am in my 87th year. Our world is starved of that which it needs most, and I saw Pope Francis as the Light on the hill, visible to all, already appreciated by many, not simply by Catholics. I realise now, I am a person of little faith.
Thank You John and thank you everyone else for your comments. I agree totally with you all, not my will but thine be done.
Beautiful expressions of faith. I have been praying for his complete healing through the will of God, however that healing may look.