Requesting Prayers of Healing for His Holiness Pope Francis
27 February 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you may be aware, Pope Francis has been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital in Rome where he has been since 14 February. His Holiness is suffering from pneumonia and some mild kidney failure.

I am reaching out to you, the priests and deacons, consecrated men and women, members of lay associations and movements, schools and Catholic organizations, parishioners and all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Toronto to join me in praying for the Holy Father. Let us pray for the Lord’s gracious and healing hand to guide the Pope back to health.

For priests, deacons, consecrated men and women and lay faithful who pray the Liturgy of the Hours, I encourage you to keep Pope Francis in mind during the intercessions of your morning and evening prayers.

For parishes and other faith communities, I ask you to consider praying the Rosary for Pope Francis, be it before Mass or even a decade of the Rosary following Mass for his recovery. Parishes can also add the Holy Father’s healing intention to the Universal Prayer using the following as a guide: “For our Holy Father, Pope Francis, suffering from illness: May the Lord, our Divine Healer, grant him strength and peace, restore his health and guide him to a full recovery so that he may continue to lead the holy People of God, with wisdom and love. We pray to the Lord.”

For schools, I urge administration and staff to ask the Blessed Mother to intercede on behalf of all of us in bringing this prayer intention to the Lord. This can be done by praying one Hail Mary for Pope Francis each day during your morning prayers.

For members of lay movements and associations, parishioners and indeed all faithful men and women, I ask you also to intercede daily for His Holiness. Be it on your own in the quietness of your heart, or gathered together with brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for Pope Francis in whatever way you can, as you are able to do so.

Prayer for Pope Francis
O merciful and loving God, fountain of all grace and source of eternal healing, be with our Holy Father as he faces this battle with illness. Surround him, O Lord, with boundless compassion and strengthen his spirit so that he may regain the health needed to continue to lead your flock with a father’s heart. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thank you very much for welcoming this prayer request and may the Lord reward you for your solidarity and Christian charity.

Sincerely yours in Jesus with Mary,

Frank Cardinal Leo
Metropolitan Archbishop of Toronto