Pope's August prayer intention: 'for evangelization in the city'

By Deborah Castellano Lubov Pope Leo XIV has urged Catholics across the globe to join him this August in praying for evangelization in the city. He released the monthly “Pray with the Pope” video on Friday, which is prepared by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. In his prayer, Pope Leo asks the “Good Shepherd” who “walks through our streets and squares,” to “enter tall buildings and humble neighborhoods,” and to “silently accompany millions” of people who “seek meaning amid noise and haste.” The Chicago-born Pope acknowledges that while cities are meant to be places of “freedom and opportunity,” they can also become “spaces of anonymity and isolation.” Thus, he expressed his hope that urban environments may provide “fertile ground" for proclaiming the Gospel. The Holy Father also prayed that the faithful make “simple and loving gestures,” and do so together as a community that “goes forth,” and combats indifference and isolation with presence and fraternity. Today, almost 45% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. Demographic growth has led to a high concentration of people, generating social and community challenges, including loneliness that affects the mental health of many people, especially young people. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network Founded in 1844 as the Apostleship of Prayer, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Pontifical Work entrusted to the Society of Jesus. In December 2020, Pope Francis established this Pontifical Work as a Vatican Foundation and approved its final statutes in July 2024. It is present in over 92 countries, forming a spiritual community of more than 22 million people who seek to live each day with availability to God’s mission. At the center of its mission are the monthly prayer intentions of the Pope, inviting its members to focus on the pressing challenges facing humanity and the Church’s mission.