Pope Benedict XVI once asked the faithful to pray for him, “that I may not flee for fear of the wolves.” ¹ Those words revealed a man aware of the spiritual battle around the papacy. The same is true now. Every pope, no matter his gifts or limitations, stands at the center of immense pressures—political, cultural, and spiritual. That is why our first and lasting response must be prayer.

The Priority of Prayer

It is easy to offer commentary. It is harder to bend the knee. Yet prayer is the one act that genuinely sustains the pope. When we pray, we are not propping up a personality or defending an institution for its own sake. We are asking God to strengthen a shepherd so that he may keep his eyes fixed on Christ and guide the flock with fidelity.

Prayer protects the pope from discouragement and pride. It protects the faithful from the temptation to place too much trust in a man, or to despair when he disappoints us. Christ alone is the savior of the Church. The pope, like us, is a pilgrim disciple. Our prayers remind him—and us—of that truth.

Personal Witness

One of the unexpected blessings of the last regime, for all its turmoil, was the calibration of my own gaze. I was forced to remember that my salvation does not rest on the person of the pope, or on bishops, or on ecclesiastical structures. My joy and eternal hope rest only in Jesus Christ. That is a precious gift, even if it came through trial.

So too now, at the beginning of Leo XIV’s pontificate, we are called to pray that he will be strengthened not to flee, not to falter, but to remain steadfast. We ask the Holy Spirit to give him clarity of mind, purity of heart, and courage of will. We ask the Lord to surround him with wise counselors, holy collaborators, and the prayers of the entire Church.

Anchored in Christ

As friends on this journey, let us remember that the surest norm for our lives is the venerable magisterium of the Church, handed down through the centuries. With that compass in hand, and with eyes fixed on Jesus, we can navigate the turbulence of our own day. Prayer keeps us anchored in Him.

If we cultivate this spirit of intercession, then no matter what storms break around us, we will not lose our way. The pope needs our prayers, but we need them even more. For prayer unites us, transforms us, and prepares us to reach our eternal home with Christ, our true shepherd and king.

Notes

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