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What I hope and pray for in our new Pope
What do you hope he will change in the Church?
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This morning (April 21, 2025), while I was doing my devotions, my husband showed me a CNA article announcing the death of Pope Francis. This surprised me since I thought he was on the mend. I prayed a rosary for the repose of his soul.
During the last few years of his ministry, Pope Francis received vehement criticism from traditionally minded Catholics. Liberal “cafeteria” Catholics couldn’t praise him enough. Hearing so much criticism of our late Holy Father grieved me. I had no desire to engage in these conversations. I had no defence and respected his office too much to criticize him. Uncomfortable with praying for his “mission”, I chose instead to pray that he would say and do only that which God desired.
For most of my adult life, Pope St. John Paul II led our church. Because of him, we now have the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary and the Divine Mercy devotion. I was disappointed when Pope Benedict XVI abandoned his post before the Lord took him home.
I was formed in the Novus Ordo when I started taking my faith seriously as a high school student in the 1970s. Now, in my late 60s, I lean strongly in the traditional…
