Pray for Pope Francis and for a Holy Pope

POPE FRANCIS (1936-2025)

Requiescat in Pace (May He Rest in Peace)

Since the death of Pope Francis on April 21st, we are now in the state of the Catholic Church called sede vacante, describing the fact that the Holy See (See of Rome) is empty.

PRAYER FOR THE SOUL OF POPE FRANCIS

Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 am on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican's Domus Sanctae Marthae. Let us pray for his soul, asking that Our Lord would have mercy on him, and bring him into the light of glory to look upon His Face of merciful love. May Our Lady, Queen of Heaven, lead him to join her Son. We pray that we would use our lives to glorify God, and to radiate His light, expressing our love for God in our hearts by praying for departed souls, whom Our Lord longs to draw to His Sacred Heart.

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio)

Born: December 17, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ordained a Priest: December 13, 1969

Consecrated a Bishop: June 27, 1992

Created a Cardinal: February 21, 2001

Elected Pope: March 13, 2013

Died: April 21, 2025

Requiem æternam dona ei, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat ei.

(Eternal rest give to him, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him.)

PRAYERS FOR A NEW HOLY POPE - OREMUS!

Let us also storm Heaven with our prayers for the next pope; that he may be holy, orthodox, and courageous in passing on and defending the immutable Deposit of Faith.

Prayer for Imploring Holy Popes (composed by Bp. Athanasius Schneider)

Kyrie Eleison! Christe Eleison! Kyrie Eleison! Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Good Shepherd!

With your almighty hand you guide Your pilgrim Church through the storms of each age.

Adorn the Holy See with holy popes who neither fear the powerful of this world nor compromise with the spirit of the age, but preserve, strengthen, and defend the Catholic Faith unto the shedding of their blood, and observe, protect, and hand on the venerable liturgy of the Roman Church.

O Lord, return to us through holy popes who, inflamed with the zeal of the Apostles, proclaim to the whole world: “Salvation is found in no other than in Jesus Christ. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they should be saved” (see Acts 4:10-12).

Through an era of holy popes, may the Holy See — which is home to all who promote the Catholic and Apostolic Faith — always shine as the cathedra of truth for the whole world. Hear us, O Lord, and through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of the Church, grant us holy popes, grant us many holy popes! Have mercy on us and hear us! Amen.

Prayer for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff (composed by Fr. Chad Ripperger)

Lord Jesus Christ, by entrusting to St. Peter and his successors the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Thou didst establish the office of the papacy. Grant to Thy Church, we beseech Thee, a pope who, in his dedication to the Sacred Tradition of the Church, will seek to govern the Church according to the Deposit of Faith and for the salvation of souls. Immaculate Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Confessors, we consecrate to thee the conclave and the election of the Holy Father. Blessed Mother, look not upon our sinfulness or upon the infidelity of many Catholics who do not accept the teaching of thy Son, but upon the Church which is the spotless Bride of thy Son, so that we do not get the leader we deserve, but a Holy Father who will guide the Church for the glory and honor of thy Son. Amen.

DURING THE INTERREGNUM: A PERIOD OF SEDE VACANTE

Following the death of Pope Francis, the See of Peter is vacant. The official Latin term for this is sede vacante, meaning that the seat is vacant. During this time between papal reigns (papal interregnum), the College of Cardinals together exercise authority in the Church and provide for its necessary governance, but solely for the dispatch of ordinary business and of matters which cannot be postponed. The College of Cardinals has no power or jurisdiction in matters which pertain to the Supreme Pontiff during his lifetime or in the exercise of his office; such matters are to be reserved completely and exclusively to the future Pope.

While the see is vacant, no big decisions can be made and nothing the previous popes have decreed can be changed.

To learn more about the Vacancy of the Holy See, the Funeral of Pope Francis, and the upcoming Papal Conclave, visit: https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/holysee/interregnum

The altar of the Chair of St. Peter (Cathedra Petri), located in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The Cathedra Petri is a symbol of the unity of all Catholics, who are in communion with each successor of St. Peter, the pope. The actual wooden throne is enclosed within a sculpted gilt bronze casing designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and built between 1657-1653. The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is on January 18th.

From October 27 to December 8, 2024, the ancient Chair of St. Peter was displayed at the foot of the High Altar before being reinstalled in Bernini's bronze throne. This is the first time the chair was shown in public since 1867.