Holy Land: Nine days of prayer ahead of Pope Francis' visit

Nine days of special prayer have been organized in preparation for Pope Francis' pastoral visit to the Holy Land which is planned for 24 to 26 May. The Patriarchate of Jerusalem for Latins, the Jerusalemite Churches and Christian communities has called for the prayers to spiritually prepare and support the Pope's pilgrimage and his meeting with the Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew, which will take place in the holy city.

This meeting, held 50 years after the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras in Jerusalem, intends to bring positive renewal to relations between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church. The nine days of preparation will include individual and community prayer in holy places, as well as fasting and Eucharistic Adoration.

In the weeks that lead up to Pope Francis' visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel, the Catholics of the Holy Land are being invited to recite the following special prayer asking the Lord that the Bishop of Rome's pilgrimage bear fruit for Christians around the world and for peaceful coexistence in all the Middle East.

“Heavenly Father, you never tire of being compassionate and loving. The successor of St Peter plans to visit the Holy Land sanctified by your Son’s birth, baptism, teaching, death and resurrection. Be with him, sanctify him, and bless him. Spread the mantle of your kindness over every stage of his pilgrimage among us, that one may see in him a believing pilgrim, a wise teacher, and a humble leader”.

Source: Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem