As you may have heard, Pope Francis passed into eternal life this morning at 7:35 AM (Rome time).
Let us commend his soul to the mercy of God and pray for his eternal repose.In this time of mourning and hope, we also turn our hearts to the Church’s next great task: the election of a new Supreme Pontiff. Let us begin praying fervently for the upcoming conclave, that the Holy Spirit may guide the cardinals in choosing a shepherd after God’s own Heart.Prayers for the repose of Pope Francis and for the election of a new pope are provided below.
✠ Prayer for the Repose of a Pope
O God,
who in Thy providence didst choose Thy servant, Francis,
to shepherd Thy Church as the Successor of Peter and Vicar of Christ,
receive him into the joy of Thy eternal dwelling.
Forgive his sins,
and reward his labors with the vision of Thy Face.
Grant, we beseech Thee,
that he who held the keys of the Kingdom on earth
may now be admitted into its everlasting gates.Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
— And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
May his soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
[download a printable pdf here]
Prayer for the Election of a Holy Pope
In the Month of Mary and Under Her Immaculate Mantle
O Most Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—
we adore You, we praise You, and we thank You
for the abiding care You show for Your Church
through the gift of the papacy.
As the Church prepares to elect a new Supreme Pontiff,
we entrust this sacred moment to Your divine providence.
Grant us the miracle of the conclave:
stir the hearts of the Cardinal Electors with the fire of a new Pentecost.
Let the Holy Spirit descend upon them with tongues of flame,
that they may discern and choose
a shepherd after Your own Heart—the one You have already chosen.
O Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of the Apostles,
in this month of May, so tenderly dedicated to your honor,
we turn to you with filial confidence.
You appeared at Fatima to three humble shepherds,
warning of the trials to come upon the Church,
but also assuring us of your promised triumph.
You called us to prayer, penance, and sacrifice—
and you promised that in the end, your Immaculate Heart would triumph.
Watch now over the cardinals, as once you watched over the Apostles in the Cenacle.
Intercede, dearest Mother,
for the restoration of sound doctrine,
that truth may be proclaimed with clarity and courage.
Implore the renewal of Christian morals,
that purity, integrity, and charity may be reborn in every soul.
Beg your Son for the restoration of the sacred liturgy,
that it may once again form saints and sanctify the world.
Gather your children into one fold under one shepherd.
Heal wounds, dispel confusion, and restore unity in Christ.
Through the heart of the Holy Father yet to come,
let the dawn of your long-promised triumph begin.
O Virgin Most Powerful,
we await with hope the new Vicar of Christ.
Clothe him with holiness, humility, and apostolic courage.
May he be a father to the poor, a voice for the faithful,
a guardian of the sacred, and a light in the darkness.
Come, Holy Spirit—
come through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
and renew the face of the Church. Amen.
Composed by Fr. Jay Finelli
