Cardinal of Lisbon’s prayer consecrating Pope Francis’ pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima
Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon consecrated the pontificate of Pope Francis to the intercession and protection of Our Lady of Fatima with a prayer he composed and prayed before the Marian shrine of Fatima on the 13th May 2013, the feast day marking the 96th anniversary of the apparition of Mary to three children:
‘Give him the gift of discernment to know how to identify the ways of renewal of the church; give him the courage not to hesitate to follow the ways suggested by the Holy Spirit; support him in the hard hours of suffering to overcome with the charity the trials that the renewal of the church will bring.
We consecrate to you, Our Lady, mother of the church, the ministry of the new pope. Fill his heart with the tenderness of God that you experienced so that he can embrace all the men and women of our age with the love of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.’
The Portuguese cardinal, who participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis, said the new pope had asked him twice to consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima.
Protect the Pope comment: Protect the Pope invites all our readers to unite themselves with Pope Francis’ desire to consecrate his pontificate and the renewal of the Church to Our Lady of Fatima. Please pray this prayer with the intention of supporting Pope Francis.