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Content reviewed and updated: Tuesday 20th January 2026 11:24am

Church News Headlines

Pray with the Pope is a new global prayer initiative launched from the Chapel of Saint Peregrine in the Vatican, inviting people worldwide to share a common moment of prayer with Pope Leo XIV. Presented on 7 January 2026, shortly before the release of its first video message, the initiative begins with the Pope sharing his prayer intention for January 2026. Recorded in English, Italian, and Spanish, the video marks the official start of a project rooted not in speeches or commentary, but in prayer itself.

For January, Pope Leo XIV invites the faithful to pray with the Word of God, calling for a rediscovery of prayer as a source of hope. Rather than offering explanations, the Pope inaugurates the initiative through a moment of prayer, modelling a quieter and more contemplative form of communication in contrast to today’s constant noise, speed, and distraction. This deliberate stillness reflects the Pope’s desire to create space for listening and interior renewal.

Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, described Pray with the Pope as presenting the Pope’s prayer in a new, sober, and powerful form—both deeply personal and universally accessible. He explained that the initiative creates a shared meeting place for millions of people, existing simultaneously in digital spaces and in everyday life, beginning in the hearts of those who participate. Central to the project is the idea of slowing down: prayer becomes a “protected space” that resists the relentless pace of modern life.

Ruffini emphasised that prayer offers a genuine possibility of encounter in a world marked by division, war, and violence. Where unity has been fractured, prayer can help restore communion. Throughout 2026, the Pope will propose a new prayer intention each month, addressing both global concerns—such as peace and disarmament—and internal challenges within the Church, including evangelisation. The initiative builds on the legacy of The Pope’s Video, launched by Pope Francis ten years earlier and viewed more than 260 million times worldwide.

Father Cristóbal Fones, Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, described the project as an open invitation for anyone, anywhere, to join the Pope in prayer from a synodal and global perspective. Video testimonies from Indonesia and Côte d’Ivoire reflect prayer’s ability to bridge cultures and peoples.

Finally, Ruffini noted that Pope Leo XIV has personally supported the project and has already recorded future messages. In a brief social media appeal, the Pope encouraged people to step away from endless scrolling and rediscover prayer as a pause where the Word of God can renew hearts tired by constant distraction.