The Fatima Center joins with Catholics worldwide offering prayers for the soul of Pope Francis, who passed away on the morning of Easter Monday, at age 88. His death was announced at 7:35 a.m. (Roman time) by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the Camerlengo (Papal Chamberlain). The cause of death was given as stroke and irreversible heart failure.
Funeral date and details have not yet been announced, but he requested to be buried at Santa Maria Maggiore, breaking the custom of his predecessors to be buried at St. Peter’s in the Vatican. His body will lie in state in a wooden casket for mourners to come pay their respects. A Pope is usually buried within 4 to 6 days of his death and the next conclave must begin within 15 to 20 days of his death. The formal period of novendiales consists of nine days of mourning and prayer following the death of a Pope.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul rest in peace, Amen.
The need for our prayers is clear as the Papacy is the greatest responsibility that any human being can undertake, and Almighty God demands more from the Pope than from any other man. We must never forget that the Message of Fatima tells us that we must “pray, pray a great deal for the Holy Father.”
Our eyes now turn to the upcoming conclave and the new Papacy.
As the Pope is central to the Fatima Message, we need a Pope who will obey Our Lady of Fatima in all Her requests. Thus, we encourage all Catholics to pray and do penance for God to grant us such a Pope. Please include this intention in your daily Rosary.
Let us offer prayers and sacrifices that a Pope will be chosen who burns with a great love of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who will be committed to the full Fatima Message, and will release the full Third Secret, and will soon consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart, in union with the world’s bishops, as Our Lady of Fatima requested.
Here is a suggested prayer. Please feel free to pray it or another of your choosing.
Prayer for the Election of the Supreme Pontiff
Lord Jesus Christ, by entrusting to Saint Peter and his successors the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, Thou didst established the office of the papacy. Grant to Thy Church, we beseech Thee, a Pope who, in his dedication to the Sacred Tradition of the Church, will seek to govern the Church according to the Deposit of Faith and for the salvation of souls. Immaculate Mary, Mother of the Church and Queen of Confessors, we consecrate to Thee the conclave and the election of the Holy Father. Blessed Mother, look not upon our sinfulness or upon the infidelity of many Catholics who do not accept the teaching of Thy Son, but upon the Church which is the spotless Bride of Thy Son, so that we do not get the leader we deserve, but a Holy Father who will guide the Church for the glory and honor of Thy Son. Amen.
Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be