Cardinals Call on Catholics to Pray & Fast for Conclave - Here Are Their Prayer Requests

Let us pray and fast for the conclave!

The conclave to elect a new Pope for the Catholic Church begins on May 7 at the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

Each cardinal participating as an elector in the conclave will conduct this process in complete secrecy. They will not communicate outside the Sistine Chapel's walls once it begins.

Many cardinals, clergy, and diocesan groups asked for prayers via social media as the Catholic Church prepares to elect Saint Peter's next successor.

Here are some of the prayer requests for the conclave from the cardinals, clergy, and Catholic faithful throughout the world:

The Archdiocese of Toronto published a message from Archbishop Frank Cardinal Leo:

His Eminence Frank Cardinal Leo's message reads:

"Dear faithful of the archdiocese, I would like you all to please join me in praying intently and wholeheartedly that the Cardinals be given wisdom and discernment from on High; that the Spirit of the Risen Christ descend with power and abundance upon the Cardinals united in Sistine Chapel and that the one chosen in the forthcoming conclave to be the next Successor of the Prince of the Apostles may be worthy and holy, humble and courageous, learned and wise.

"Together let us please pray each day at least 3 Hail Mary's and the Memorare for this specific intention."

Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey, Cardinal Joe Tobin, requested the faithful to "ask the Holy Spirit" to guide the cardinals as they "discern God's will" for the new pope:

Cardinal Joe Tobin's post reads:

"Tomorrow, I will join with the other Cardinal Electors in fulfilling our sacred responsibility to elect a new pope. During this time, I will have no communication with anyone outside the Sistine Chapel’s walls. Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern God’s will."

In an additional post, Cardinal Tobin called on Our Lady of Perpetual Help:

Cardinal Joe Tobin's post reads:

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome, displays your icon and welcomes pilgrims for prayer. May we never hesitate to invoke your prayers and intercession, especially as we gather in conclave to discern the Holy Spirit’s choice for the next Bishop of Rome.

Archbishop of Montevideo, Uruguay, Daniel Sturla, asked for the intercession of Blessed Jacinto Vera, whose memorial the Church celebrates on May 6:

Archbishop Sturla's post reads:

"Today is the memorial of Blessed Jacinto Vera, the gaucho bishop, missionary, courageous, and humorous, whom God gifted to the Uruguayan Church. Today marks the anniversary of his death (1881) and the second anniversary of his beatification. May he intercede for our Church and for the election of the new Pope."

Along with a photo of the two cardinals, Neil MacCarthy, the press secretary to Cardinal Frank Leo and Cardinal Thomas Collins of the Archdiocese of Toronto, wrote:

MacCarthy's post reads:

"In a special way, we pray for our @archtoronto shepherds, Cardinal Leo & Cardinal Collins, as they prepare to enter the conclave. Photo from earlier today. Told them they are being prayed for and: 'I will see you when it's done unless I see you on the balcony.' #Conclave2025."

The Manila Cathedral in the Philippines announced special rosary times and Masses they will hold as the Conclave begins. Here's the post below:

Here is the text of the Manila Cathedral's announcement:

MANILA UNITES IN PRAYER FOR NEXT POPE

The Manila Cathedral is set to hold Masses and rosary prayers as the conclave begins today in the Vatican.

Masses for the new Pope will be held at 7:30 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. beginning Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales will lead the praying of the Holy Rosary daily at 11:30 a.m.

There are 133 cardinal-electors, including Filipino cardinals Luis Antonio Tagle, Jose F. Advincula, and Pablo Virgilio David, who will choose Pope Francis' successor. | via Gabriela Baron

#DailyTribune #Conclave2025

The Archdiocese of Durban in South Africa called on their followers to "earnestly pray for all the Cardinal Electors at the Conclave."

Here's the Archdiocese of Durban's post below:

The Archdiocese of Durban's post reads:

"Let us earnestly pray for all the Cardinal Electors at Conclave, that the Holy Spirit may both enlighten and inspire them as they gather to perform their sacred duty in electing the new Pope.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Church of St. Alphonsus in Rome, displays your icon and welcomes pilgrims for prayer. May we never hesitate to invoke your prayers and intercession, especially as we gather in conclave to discern the Holy Spirit’s choice for the next Bishop of Rome."

Cardinal Raymond Burke also published his novena prayer for the conclave in Latin.

Cardinal Burke recites his Novena Prayer for the Conclave to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the video below:

Bishop Robert Barron also requested prayers for the conclave. He shared his EWTN News interview in his post:

Bishop Barron's post reads:

"Friends, as conclave preparations continue, I sat down in St. Peter’s Square with @colmflynnire, a reporter for @EWTNews, to discuss the men who may become our next pope.

Please pray for those gathered in Rome, especially the cardinal electors, who will soon elect St. Peter’s newest successor."

Let us pray and fast for the 2025 Papal Conclave!