On Friday, January 30, 2026, Pope Leo XIV received in audience the members of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network at the Vatican.
This meeting represented a moment of profound encounter between the Holy Father and his entire Worldwide Prayer Network. In his welcoming remarks, Leo XIV cordially greeted the international leadership team, as well as the continental coordinators and members of the international office. The Pope made a special mention of gratitude to the Foundation’s Ambassadors, highlighting their generosity in supporting the mission.
In his address, the Pope emphasized the prayer network’s formation itinerary as an essential guide for living this spirituality in daily life:
“The Way of the Heart is a useful guide on how to live this spirituality in daily life. I hope that, through your apostolate, you continue to help the baptized understand that they are friends and apostles of Christ.”
Likewise, the Holy Father emphasized the importance of engaging young people, who seek a more personal relationship with Jesus through the Eucharistic Youth Movement:
“It is especially important to invite young people to participate so that they may form the next generation of intercessors for the needs of the whole world.”
Blessing for the entire Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
“I warmly thank you for your efforts to promote prayer throughout the world for the Pope’s intentions, and I encourage you to continue on this path with a joyful spirit. I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing to you, which I extend to your loved ones and to all the members of the Network.”
—
GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XIV TO THE LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERS OF THE POPE’S WORLDWIDE PRAYER NETWORK
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you!
Good morning and welcome to all of you. I am happy to meet with you and I thank you for your service to the people of God.
I cordially greet the International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network Foundation, Father Cristóbal Fones, as well as Mrs Bettina Raed and Father Miguel Melo, the Vice Directors. I also welcome all of you who are members of the International Office, Continental Coordinators, the Board of Directors, permanent partners, and, in a special way, the Ambassadors of the Foundation who support the stability and vitality of this mission with their generosity.
As you know, each month, after careful discernment, my predecessors and I have shared with you various intentions that touch upon the challenges facing humanity as well as the life and the mission of the Church. I am grateful for your efforts to disseminate them to the tens of millions of people in this worldwide network who each day present these needs before God. Such prayer is not external to the evangelical work of the Body of Christ, but an integral part of it.
The spirituality of your apostolate of prayer is rooted in the Heart of Jesus, which allows you to know our Lord more intimately and to be more compassionate and empathetic as you offer prayerful support for those in need. In this regard, your formation itinerary, The Way of the Heart, is a helpful guide for how to live out this spirituality in daily life. It is my hope that through your apostolate you will continue to help the baptized to understand that they are friends and apostles of Christ.
I likewise encourage you to foster an even greater participation in this Network, which unites diverse cultures, languages, and charisms in the common mission. It is especially important to invite young people to take part so that they may form the next generation of intercessors for the needs of the whole world. Since many of them are searching for a more profound and personal relationship with the Risen Jesus, your Eucharistic Youth Movement can be a particularly fruitful path to help them to grow in a deeper intimacy with our Lord.
Dear brothers and sisters, I warmly thank you for your efforts to promote prayer worldwide for the Pope’s intentions, and encourage you to continue on this path with a joyful spirit. I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing, which I extend to your loved ones and to all the members of the Network.
Thank you
Let us pray together as the Lord taught us,
Our Father…
Have a wonderful day. Thank you again for your service and your commitment to this important ministry. Thank you.
—
