As the Church journeys through Holy Year 2025, Pope Leo XIV entrusts us all with a powerful call to prayer for the month of August. In his monthly message, he says, “Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons” (according to Vatican News).
Living in Jesus’ Presence Amid Division
Pope Leo acknowledges the challenges of our time, saying, “We live in times of fear and division. Sometimes we act as if we were alone, building walls that separate us from one another, forgetting that we are brothers and sisters” (according to Vatican News).
He prays that the Holy Spirit may “rekindle within us the desire to understand one another, to listen, to live together with respect and compassion.” He continues, “Make us builders of bridges, able to overcome borders and ideologies, able to see others through the eyes of the heart, recognizing in every person an inviolable dignity. Help us to create spaces where hope can flourish, where diversity is not a threat but a richness that makes us more human” (according to Vatican News).
Promoting Peaceful Coexistence
Father Cristóbal Fones, S.J., International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, explains that “all of us can promote peaceful coexistence” (according to Vatican News). He offers three practical steps:
- Work on yourself first
Father Fones emphasizes that we must “rid one’s heart of pride, and the expectations and negative words that hurt and kill. As Pope Leo XIV teaches us, peace is built in the heart and from the heart” (according to Vatican News). - Set aside prejudices
He advises, “We need to respectfully approach others to listen since they always have something unique to contribute. Through dialogue, it is possible to seek what unites us and open up ways to work together for the common good” (according to Vatican News). - Leaders must pursue harmony
Father Fones reminds that Pope Leo XIV calls government leaders to “invest in the family; safeguard the dignity of every person, especially the weakest and most defenseless; exercise justice; seek to remedy inequalities; and defend the truth, which is the basis on which authentic relationships can be built” (according to The Pope Video).
Jubilee Year and The Pope Video
In the context of the Holy Year 2025, praying for the Pope’s intentions takes on a special significance. “To properly receive the graces of the Jubilee indulgence, it is necessary to pray for the Pope’s intentions” (according to Vatican News).
The Pope Video for August—produced with the help of Jesuit Communications Foundation (JesCom)—shares this intention with the world, inviting Catholics to join in this prayer for unity and fraternity.
A Call to Devout Catholics
Pope Leo’s August prayer intention is more than a request; it is a mission. It calls every Catholic to live the Gospel by:
- Opening hearts to dialogue and compassion.
- Overcoming pride and division within ourselves.
- Building bridges in our communities and parishes.
- Praying intentionally for peace and unity in the Church and the world.
By praying this intention with the Holy Father, we participate in his mission to transform division into fraternity and to see diversity as a richness that makes us more human (according to Vatican News).
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