Say a Prayer for Pope Francis Today, As He Celebrates His Priesthood Anniversary

Yes, he is the Vicar of Christ, leader of the Catholic Church in the entire world.  But today, Pope Francis is remembering his priestly ordination.  It was on December 13, 1969 that he was ordained by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano, Archbishop of Córdoba.

This morning, Pope Francis asked for prayer for himself, and for all priests.

Here, from Catholic Online, a prayer for a priest:

 O Jesus, our great High Priest, Hear my humble prayers on behalf of your priest, Father [N]. Give him a deep faith, a bright and firm hope and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life. 

In his loneliness, comfort him In his sorrows, strengthen him In his frustrations, point out to him that it is through suffering that the soul is purified, and show him that he is needed by the Church, he is needed by souls, he is needed for the work of redemption. 

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of Priests, take to your heart your son who is close to you because of his priestly ordination, and because of the power which he has received to carry on the work of Christ in a world which needs him so much. 

Be his comfort, be his joy, be his strength, and especially help him to live and to defend the ideals of consecrated celibacy.

Amen.