To The Ends Of The Earth

After a month of prayerful anticipation, we at the Blessed John Paul II Shrine are grateful to once again have a Shepherd in the Chair of St. Peter. We welcome and embrace Pope Francis, who has already shown the Church that he is a prayerful man with a humble devotion to the Blessed Mother.

After the Habemus Papam announcement yesterday, Pope Francis addressed the Church:

And now let us begin this journey, the Bishop and the people, this journey of the Church of Rome which presides in charity over all the Churches, a journey of brotherhood in love, of mutual trust. Let us always pray for one another. Let us pray for the whole world that there might be a great sense of brotherhood. My hope is that this journey of the Church that we begin today, together with the help of my Cardinal Vicar, may be fruitful for the evangelization of this beautiful city.

Let us pray for Pope Francis, and let us especially ask for the intercession of Blessed John Paul II. May the Holy Spirit be with the new Holy Father, guiding him on this “journey of brotherhood” to the fruitful evangelization of the world.