At the start of the new year, Pope Leo XIV has issued a renewed call for Catholics around the world to deepen their relationship with Sacred Scripture through prayer, unveiling his January prayer intention alongside a new global initiative titled “Pray with the Pope.”
The initiative, which replaces the former program known as The Pope Video, seeks to unite the faithful more closely with the Holy Father’s monthly intentions through formats designed for prayer in a digital age, according to Vatican News.
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In his first prayer video released under the new initiative, Pope Leo XIV focused on the transforming power of God’s Word in the life of the believer. He emphasized that Scripture is not merely a text to be studied, but a living encounter capable of restoring peace and purpose to the human heart.
“Only the Gospel,” the Pope said, “can give peace and fullness to the human heart,” which he described as restless and searching for meaning, according to Vatican News.
The Holy Father’s prayer centers on learning to listen attentively to God through daily engagement with Scripture. “Teach us to listen to you each day in the Scriptures,” Pope Leo prayed, “to let ourselves be challenged by your voice, and to discern our decisions from the closeness to your Heart,” according to Vatican News.
Reflecting on the lived reality of the Church, the Pope described Sacred Scripture as a source of strength in difficult times, saying that God’s Word offers “nourishment in weariness, hope in darkness, and strength in our communities,” according to Vatican News.
The Pope’s January intention urges Christians to rediscover what Vatican News described as the “spiritual power of Sacred Scripture as a privileged place to encounter Christ.” He concluded his prayer with a call for faith that moves outward into action, praying that encounter with God’s Word would lead believers “to serve the most vulnerable, to forgive, build bridges, and proclaim life,” according to Vatican News.
The “Pray with the Pope” initiative is designed to encourage daily prayer in communion with the Holy Father and the wider Church. Father Cristóbal Fones, SJ, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, explained that the renewed format is meant to invite broader participation and deeper spiritual unity. He described the project as “an open door so that any person, wherever they may be, can join in praying for the intention the Holy Father proposes each month,” according to Vatican News.
The January video was filmed inside the Church of St. Pellegrino within Vatican City, a site with roots dating back to the eighth century. According to Vatican News, the church has long served pilgrims traveling along the Via Francigena on their way to the tomb of St. Peter, standing as a historic place of prayer, welcome, and encounter.
By launching the year with a renewed focus on Scripture, Pope Leo XIV is inviting the Church to begin 2026 grounded in listening, prayer, and a living relationship with Christ through the Word of God.
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