Pope Leo XIV has dedicated his February Prayer Intentions to children living with incurable diseases, urging Catholics worldwide to unite in prayer and to recognize the face of Christ in the suffering of the youngest and most vulnerable.
According to Vatican News, the Holy Father released the intention as part of the monthly Pray with the Pope initiative, drawing attention to the physical, emotional, and spiritual trials faced by children whose illnesses have no known cure.
In the prayer that opens the video message, Pope Leo turns directly to Christ, saying, “Lord Jesus, who welcomed the little ones in your arms and blessed them tenderly, today we bring before you the children living with incurable illnesses.” He reflects on how their “fragile bodies” reveal Christ’s presence and how their joy amid suffering bears witness to God’s Kingdom.
The Pope prayed that these children may always receive “proper medical care, human and compassionate attention, and the support of a community that accompanies them with love.” His intention extended beyond the children themselves to include families, caregivers, and medical professionals who shoulder the daily weight of uncertainty and pain.
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Pope Leo asked the Holy Spirit to guide doctors and caregivers, praying that their hands may act with compassion and that they be granted “patience and tenderness” in every difficult decision. He also prayed for families, asking that they be sustained in hope and strengthened in faith through trial.
At the heart of the prayer is a call for conversion of heart. “Lord, teach us to recognize your face in every suffering child,” the Pope prayed, asking that vulnerability awaken compassion and lead to concrete acts of solidarity. He concluded by inviting the Church to become a place where fragility is upheld and suffering is met with comfort, hope, and love.
According to Vatican News, the prayer video was recorded in the Church of St. Pellegrino inside Vatican City, where Pope Leo is seen holding drawings created by children receiving treatment at the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital in Rome — a powerful visual reminder of the lives being lifted up in prayer.
The global reality facing suffering children remains stark. Vatican News reports that the World Health Organization estimates around 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer each year, while UNICEF states that more than 2.1 billion children and teenagers live with chronic or long-term health conditions worldwide. Approximately one million children under 20 die each year as a result of these illnesses.
As Catholics around the world respond to the February Prayer Intentions, Pope Leo XIV’s message serves as both a spiritual appeal and a moral challenge — calling the faithful not only to pray, but to accompany suffering children and their families with compassion, presence, and hope.
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