Pope Francis' Prayers for Coronavirus           

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Prayer to Our Lady, Health of the Sick, to implore her protection during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic.  Pope Francis says this first prayer could be recited at the end of the rosary.

This English translated prayer was retrieved from: 

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2020/documents/papa-francesco_20200425_lettera-mesedimaggio.html 

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O Mary, You shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.  We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross, were united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith.

“Protectress of the Roman people”, you know our needs, and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us.  For he took upon himself our suffering, and burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection.
Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God; Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

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Second Prayer from Pope Francis

Pope Francis says this second prayer could also be recited at the end of the rosary.

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This was also retrieved from:

http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/letters/2020/documents/papa-francesco_20200425_lettera-mesedimaggio.html 

 

“We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God”.

In the present tragic situation, when the whole world is prey to suffering and anxiety, we fly to you, Mother of God and our Mother, and seek refuge under your protection.

Virgin Mary, turn your merciful eyes towards us amid this coronavirus pandemic. Comfort those who are distraught and mourn their loved ones who have died, and at times are buried in a way that grieves them deeply. Be close to those who are concerned for their loved ones who are sick and who, in order to prevent the spread of the disease, cannot be close to them. Fill with hope those who are troubled by the uncertainty of the future and the consequences for the economy and employment.

Mother of God and our Mother, pray for us to God, the Father of mercies, that this great suffering may end and that hope and peace may dawn anew. Plead with your divine Son, as you did at Cana, so that the families of the sick and the victims be comforted, and their hearts be opened to confidence and trust.

Protect those doctors, nurses, health workers and volunteers who are on the frontline of this emergency, and are risking their lives to save others. Support their heroic effort and grant them strength, generosity and continued health.

Be close to those who assist the sick night and day, and to priests who, in their pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel, are trying to help and support everyone.

Blessed Virgin, illumine the minds of men and women engaged in scientific research, that they may find effective solutions to overcome this virus.

Support national leaders, that with wisdom, solicitude and generosity they may come to the aid of those lacking the basic necessities of life and may devise social and economic solutions inspired by farsightedness and solidarity.

Mary Most Holy, stir our consciences, so that the enormous funds invested in developing and stockpiling arms will instead be spent on promoting effective research on how to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.

Beloved Mother, help us realize that we are all members of one great family and to recognize the bond that unites us, so that, in a spirit of fraternity and solidarity, we can help to alleviate countless situations of poverty and need. Make us strong in faith, persevering in service, constant in prayer.

Mary, Consolation of the afflicted, embrace all your children in distress and pray that God will stretch out his all-powerful hand and free us from this terrible pandemic, so that life can serenely resume its normal course.

To you, who shine on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope, do we entrust ourselves, O Clement, O Loving, O Sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

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Pope’s prayer intentions for specific types of people who are affected by the pandemic are at the is Vatican page:

 

retrieved from https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-03/pope-francis-coronavirus-suffering-intentions.html

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For the homeless

Most recently, on Tuesday, he prayed “for those who are homeless”:

“At this moment in which everyone is supposed to be at home, may society, men and women, realize this reality and help them, and that the Church might welcome them.”

 

For those who fear

On Monday 30 March, the Pope’s intention was “for the many people who are not succeeding in coping and remain in fear because of the pandemic”:

“May the Lord help them to have the strength to cope for the good of  society and the entire community.”

 

On Thursday March 26, the Pope had already turned his attention to the fear that often accompanies suffering:

“The fear of the elderly who are alone in nursing homes, or hospitals, or in their own homes, and don't know what will happen. The fear of those who don’t have regular jobs and are thinking about how to feed their children. They foresee they may go hungry. The fear of many civil servants. At this moment they're working to keep society functioning and they might get sick. There’s also the fear – the fears – of each one of us. Each one knows what their own fears are. We pray to the Lord that He might help us to trust, and to tolerate and conquer these fears.”

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For those who weep

On Sunday 29 March, Pope Francis began the liturgy saying he was thinking “of the many people who are weeping, people who are isolated, in quarantine, the elderly; people who are alone, in hospital, parents who do not foresee receiving their salary and do not know how they will feed their children”…

“Many people are weeping. We too, from our hearts, accompany them. It wouldn’t do us any harm to weep a bit as our Lord wept for all of His people”.

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For those who suffer hunger

On Saturday 28 March, the Pope prayed for those suffering from hunger because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We're beginning to see people who are hungry because they can't work. They may not have had a regular job, and from many other circumstances. We're beginning to see the aftermath that will come later. But it's beginning now. We pray for the families who are beginning to find themselves in need because of the pandemic”.

 

For those who pray

During his morning Mass on Friday 27 March, Pope Francis noted that the difficult times we are facing have inspired in many people a more general concern for others: for families that don’t have enough to get by, for the elderly who are alone, for the sick in hospitals. They are praying for others, “that help might somehow arrive”.

“This is a good sign, and we thank the Lord, who is arousing these sentiments in the hearts of the faithful”.

 

For those in difficulty

The Pope is also aware of the suffering of those families facing financial difficulties. On Monday 23 March, he prayed especially for them:

“Let us pray today for those persons who are beginning to experience economic problems because of the pandemic, because they cannot work… All of this affects the family. We pray for those people who have this problem.”

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For medical personnel

The Pope has expressed his admiration for medical personnel and those who risk their lives caring for coronavirus patients. Before Mass at the Casa Santa Marta on Tuesday, 24 March, he said:

“I received the news that in these days, a number of doctors and priests have died, I don't know if there were a few nurses. They were infected…because they were serving the sick. Let’s pray for them, for their families. I thank God for the example of heroism they give us in caring for the sick.”

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1 more about God's strength

...on Friday 27 March, Pope Francis prayed that we might “hand over our fears” to the Lord, so that “He can conquer them”:

“Because this is God’s strength: turning to the good everything that happens to us, even the bad things. He brings serenity into our storms, because with God life never dies.”