The bells of Rome have tolled. The See of Peter stands empty once more. With the death of Pope Francis, who reigned from 2013 to 2025, the Church finds herself again poised between grief and expectancy, with a conclave looming beneath the frescoed gaze of Michelangelo.
Smoke shall rise soon from the Sistine chimney, but before it turns white, the faithful must reckon with a subtler, deeper matter: how should a Catholic pray in this hour?
Not just for whom, but how.
For many, this question already surfaced in the final months of Pope Francis’ illness. Some, while more than willing to pray for his good, were unsure whether praying for his recovery was good for the Church. What were the lips of the faithful to ask of God in such a scenario?
