Novena in Memory of Pope Francis

Posted : Apr-25-2025

As we mourn the death of our Holy Father, Francis, the faithful are encouraged to participate in liturgical celebrations (Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours, Eucharistic Adoration) and devotional prayers arranged by their dioceses and parishes.
The College of Cardinals has initiated a period of nine days of mourning, beginning on 26 April 2025 and ending on 4 May 2025. During this time the following novena may be prayed.
May the Holy Father Pope Francis rest in peace, and may the Lord grant him the reward promised to faithful servants of the Kingdom.

If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14.8)

First Day
“You are Peter…” (Mt 16.18)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING Matthew 16.13-19
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi,
he asked his disciples,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist,
but others Elijah,
and still others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered,
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him,
“Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah!
For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you,
but my Father in heaven.
And I tell you, you are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my Church,
and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,
and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,
and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
O God, faithful rewarder of souls,
grant that your departed servant Pope Francis,
whom you made successor of Peter
and shepherd of your Church,
may happily enjoy for ever in your presence in heaven
the mysteries of your grace and compassion,
which he faithfully ministered on earth.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Second Day
“Feed my sheep” (Jn 21.16)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING John 21.15-17
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
For the third time after he was raised from the dead,
Jesus appeared to the disciples.
Just after daybreak, he stood on the beach
and said to them, “Come and eat.”
When they had finished breakfast,
Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
A second time he said to him,
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time,
“Do you love me?”
And he said to him,
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
O God, immortal shepherd of souls,
look on your people’s prayers
and grant that your servant Pope Francis,
who presided over your Church in charity,
may, with the flock entrusted to his care,
receive from your mercy
the reward of a faithful steward.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Third Day
“I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Mt.25.35)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING Matthew 25.31-40
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew.
When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the Angels with him,
then he will sit on the throne of his glory.
All the nations will be gathered before him,
and he will separate people one from another
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,
and he will put the sheep at his right hand
and the goats at the left.
Then the king will say to those at his right hand,
“Come, you that are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world;
for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
I was naked and you gave me clothing,
I was sick and you took care of me,
I was in prison and you visited me.”
Then the righteous will answer him,
“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food,
or thirsty and gave you something to drink?
And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you,
or naked and gave you clothing?
And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison
and visited you?”
And the king will answer them,
“Truly I tell you,
just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine,
you did it to me.”
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
O God, who chose your servant Pope Francis
from among your Priests
and endowed him with pontifical dignity
in the apostolic priesthood,
grant, we pray,
that he may also be admitted to their company for ever.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Fourth Day
The joy of the Gospel (Evangelii Gaudium 1)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING 1 Corinthians 9.16, 19, 22b-23
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers and sisters:
If I proclaim the Gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting,
for an obligation is laid on me,
and woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel!
For though I am free with respect to all,
I have made myself a slave to all,
so that I might win more of them.
I have become all things to all people,
that I might by all means save some.
I do it all for the sake of the Gospel,
so that I may share in its blessings.
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
O God, who in your wondrous providence
chose your servant Pope Francis to preside over your Church,
grant, we pray,
that, having served as the Vicar of your Son on earth,
he may be welcomed by him into eternal glory.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Fifth Day
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Lk 6.36)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING Luke 6.35-36
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
Love your enemies,
do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.
Your reward will be great, and you will be
children of the Most High;
for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Grant, we pray, O Lord,
that the soul of Francis, your servant and Priest,
whom you honoured with sacred office
while he lived in this world,
may exult for ever in the glorious home of heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Sixth Day
“By the word of the LORD the heavens were made” (Ps 32.6)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING Psalm 33.1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7, 9, 18-19, 20, 22 (R. 22)
R. Let your love be upon us, LORD,
even as we hope in you.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
Praise befits the upright.
Praise the LORD with the lyre;
make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. R.
Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
The word of the LORD is upright,
and all his work is done in faithfulness. R.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
and all their host by the breath of his mouth. R.
He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
he put the deeps in storehouses.
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm. R.
Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
on those who hope in his steadfast love,
to deliver their soul from death,
and to keep them alive in famine. R.
Our soul waits for the LORD;
he is our help and shield.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you. R.

Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that the soul of your departed servant Pope Francis,
to whom you committed the care of your family,
may, with the manifold fruit of his labours,
enter into the eternal gladness of his Lord.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

Seventh Day
“Jesus came near and went with them.” (Lk 24.15)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING Luke 24.13-15
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke.
On the first day of the week,
two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus,
about eleven kilometres from Jerusalem,
and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
While they were talking and discussing,
Jesus himself came near and went with them.
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Eighth Day
“Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Sam 3.10)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING 1 Samuel 3.9-10
A reading from the first book of Samuel.
Eli said to Samuel,
“Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say,
‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’”
So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Now the LORD came and stood there,
calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

Ninth Day
“Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of hope!” (Evangelii Gaudium 86)
SIGN OF THE CROSS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
R. Amen.
READING 1 Thessalonians 4.13-14, 18
A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters,
about those who have died,
so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so, through Jesus,
God will bring with him those who have died.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Pause for silent prayer.
Pray one Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.

PRAYER
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
R. And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Hear with favour our prayers,
which we humbly offer, O Lord,
for the salvation of the soul of Francis, your servant and Priest,
that he, who devoted a faithful ministry to your name,
may rejoice in the perpetual company of your Saints.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
R. Amen.

COPYRIGHT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Excerpts from the Lectionary, Sundays and Solemnities, copyright © Concacan Inc., 2009, and the Lectionary: Ritual Masses, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, Votive Masses, Masses for the Dead, copyright © Concacan Inc., 2014. All rights reserved.
These editions follow the Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typica altera, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanus, 1981.
The Scripture quotations contained herein are based on the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA. Adapted and used by permission. All rights reserved.
Adaptations for liturgical use have been made to selected Scripture texts. These adaptations have been made to bring the readings into conformity with the Ordo Lectionum Missae, editio typica altera, the Lectionarium and Liturgiam Authenticam, as well as to facilitate proclamation. These adaptations were prepared by and are the sole responsibility of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops. Adaptations copyright © 2009, 2014 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Excerpts from the English translation of Order of Christian Funerals © 1985, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL); excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, ICEL. All rights reserved; © Concacan Inc., 2011 for the Canadian Edition. All rights reserved; © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2008 for the Latin text. All rights reserved.

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