Across the world, millions of hearts stood still at the news: Pope Leo has been diagnosed with cancer.
For the global Catholic community and believers everywhere, the announcement brought a heavy wave of sorrow — yet, as Catholics especially on this feast day of the Miracle of the Sun, we can trust wholeheartedly in the power of prayer.
In times of darkness, the Church turns to the communion of saints, seeking those who walked similar paths of suffering. Among them stands a powerful intercessor for this moment in time:
Saint Peregrine Laziosi, the patron saint of cancer patients.
Saint Peregrine’s story is one of profound transformation and physical healing. Born in 1260 to an affluent family in Forlì, Italy, Peregrine was the only son of a wealthy family, and even at one point actively opposed the papacy.
Yet, after experiencing the incredible mercy and forgiveness of Saint Philip Benizi, Peregrine’s heart was radically converted. He left behind a life of luxury and joined the Servite Order, became a priest, and devoted his life to penance, passionate preaching, and was known never to sit down spending hours hearing confessions.
Later in life, Father Peregrine developed a painful, incurable cancerous growth in his leg. On the night before doctors were scheduled to amputate the limb, Peregrine dragged himself to the foot of the cross. As he prayed in total unwavering faith in God, he experienced a mystical vision: Jesus came down from the crucifix and touched his diseased leg.
When Peregrine awoke, the cancer was completely gone.
Today, as Pope Leo faces his own battle with cancer, faithful around the globe are invited to unite in prayer, asking Saint Peregrine to intercede on behalf of the Holy Father for healing and peace.
Let us lift up Pope Leo with one voice, invoking the wonder-worker of Forlì for the Holy Father’s strength, peace, and complete recovery.
PRAYER TO SAINT PEREGRINE FOR POPE LEO
Glorious wonder-worker, St. Peregrine, you answered the divine call with a ready spirit, and forsook all the comforts of a life of ease and all the empty honors of the world to dedicate yourself to God in the Order of His Holy Mother.
You labored manfully for the salvation of souls. In union with Jesus crucified, you endured painful sufferings with such patience as to deserve to be healed miraculously of an incurable cancer by a touch of His divine hand.
Obtain for us the grace to answer every call of God and to fulfill His will in all the events of life. Enkindle in our hearts a consuming zeal for the salvation of all souls.
Deliver our Holy Father, Pope Leo, from the infirmity that afflicts his body. Obtain for him and for us a perfect resignation to the sufferings it may please God to send us, so that, imitating our crucified Savior and His Sorrowful Mother, we may merit eternal glory in heaven.
St. Peregrine, pray for Pope Leo and for all who invoke your aid.
O great St. Peregrine, you have been called "The Mighty," "The Wonder-Worker," because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you.
For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and you had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more. You were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction.
Ask of God and Our Lady the cure of the sick whom we entrust to you — especially our beloved Holy Father, Pope Leo.
(Pause here to silently recall Pope Leo and all loved ones suffering from cancer)
Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing to God, now and for all eternity, a song of gratitude for His great goodness and mercy.
Amen.