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Pope Leo XIV invites us to pray for priests in crisis

The Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of April focuses on the human and spiritual accompaniment of priests going through difficult moments 

Vatican City, 31 March 2026. At the beginning of Holy Week, Pope Leo XIV announces his prayer intention for the month of April. Dedicated to priests in crisis, it opens the possibility of reflecting on the needs to care for them, listen to them, and accompany them. Through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network’s “Pray with the Pope” campaign, the Holy Father invites the faithful and all people of goodwill to spend a moment in prayer, to become aware of and to reflect on the fact that behind every minister is a person who needs closeness and a listening ear.

In his prayer, the Pope offers a moving plea for priests going through difficult moments, “when loneliness weighs heavily, when doubt clouds their hearts, and when exhaustion seems stronger than hope.” Leo XIV reminds us that priests, “are not mere functionaries or lonely heroes, but beloved sons, humble and cherished disciples, and pastors sustained by the prayer of their people.”

In addition, the Pontiff emphasizes the importance of rediscovering the communitarian dimension of the priestly ministry. In particular, he invites the faithful “to listen without judging, to give thanks without demanding perfection, and to accompany them with closeness and sincere prayer,” recognizing that caring for priests is a shared responsibility for the entire People of God.

In his prayer, the Pope especially prays that priests might have “healthy friendships, networks of fraternal support,” and the grace of rediscovering the beauty of their vocation. 

Fraternal support for those who support others

The international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, Father Cristóbal Fones, points out that this prayer intention is particularly dear to the Pope. “The Pope,” he says, “is reminding us that we must fraternally support those who support others. I myself feel this very deeply for many fellow priests who are companions and friends who are going through difficult moments. It is essential to remember how important human accompaniment, sincere friendship and, above all, prayer support are. Priests need to know that they are not alone.”

In the light of the Church’s teaching—from the Second Vatican Council to the teachings of the most recent popes—it has been emphasized that priests are fragile man in need of our mercy, closeness, and understanding. For this reason, it has been stressed that they should not have to face moments of discouragement alone but should allow themselves to be accompanied and supported by the community. Priestly fraternity, life shared with others, and the prayer of God’s people thus emerge as essential sources of grace, capable of renewing their vocation and sustaining their daily mission.

“Do not be daunted by your personal frailty: the Lord does not look for perfect priests”

A synodal Church is also one that cares for and supports the vocation of its priests, helping them to be better pastors, better brothers, better persons. Pope Francis in The  Pope Video of July 2018 already manifested his concern for his brothers priests. In that video, he began saying, “The tiredness of priests… Do you know how often I think about it?”

On June 27, 2025, Pope Leo XIV himself, on the Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests addressed these words to priests: “Do not be daunted by your personal frailty: the Lord does not look for perfect priests, but for humble hearts that are open to conversion and prepared to love others as he himself loved us.” Before that, on June 26, 2025, he met with participants in the international meeting of priests called “Happy Priests—‘I call you friends’ (Jn. 15:16), organized by the Dicastery for Clergy during the Jubilee for Priests. He told them, “In the heart of this Holy Year, we want to bear witness together that we can be joyful priests because Christ has called us, and Christ has made us his friends (cf. Jn 15:15). This is a grace that we want to accept with gratitude and responsibility.

For its part, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network highlights that this intention is not only an invitation to pray. It is also a call to action to foster safe listening spaces, to create welcome communities, to avoid destructive criticism, and to strengthen bonds within the community. 

About the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Pontifical Work entrusted to the Society of Jesus. It is present in over 92 countries, forming a spiritual community of more than 22 million people who seek to live each day with availability to God’s mission. At the center of its mission are the monthly prayer intentions of the Pope, inviting its members to focus on the pressing challenges facing humanity and the Church’s mission. 

It was founded in 1844 as the Apostleship of Prayer. In December 2020, Pope Francis established this Pontifical Work as a Vatican Foundation and approved its final statutes in July 2024.