杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淧olitics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good,鈥� says 杏MAP导航 Francis, quoting his predecessor St Paul VI.

In his prayer intention for the month of August, the Holy Father invites the faithful to join him in prayer 鈥渢hat political leaders be at the service of their own people, working for integral human development and the common good, taking caring of those who have lost their jobs and giving priority to the poorest.鈥�

In his video message announcing this month鈥檚 intention, 杏MAP导航 Francis acknowledges that 鈥減olitics does not have a very good reputation.鈥� Nonetheless, he says, politics properly so-called 鈥� as opposed to 鈥減oliticking鈥� 鈥� 鈥渓istens to what is really going on鈥� is at the service of the poor鈥� is concerned for the unemployed.鈥�

鈥淚f we look at it in this way,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 says, 鈥減olitics is much more noble than it appears.鈥�

So, he says, as we pray for political leaders, we should also be grateful 鈥渇or the many politicians who carry out their duties with a will to serve, not of power, who put all their efforts toward the common good.鈥�

Why pray for political leaders?

Commenting on the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 prayer intention for August, the International director of the 杏MAP导航鈥檚 Worldwide Prayer Network, Fr Frédéric Fornos, SJ, voices the objection, 鈥淲hy pray for political leaders?鈥�

However, he says, 鈥減olitical leaders are who we make of them. Instead of fuelling contempt for them with our words and our thoughts, let鈥檚 help them to be the men and women we would like them to be. Let鈥檚 pray for them, as 杏MAP导航 Francis invites us to do.鈥�

Fr Fornos recalls that, although at times politicians can be greedy or power-hungry, there are many political leaders 鈥渨ho truly serve the common good.鈥�

For our part, Fr Fornos asks rhetorically, 鈥淲hat are we doing? What would we do in their place?鈥� And he answers, 鈥淭he least we can do is pray for them.鈥�

The 杏MAP导航 Video is an official global initiative with the purpose of disseminating the Holy Father's monthly prayer intentions. It is carried out by the 杏MAP导航's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer). Since 2016, The 杏MAP导航 Video has had more than 226 million views across all the Vatican鈥檚 social networks, and is translated into more than 23 languages, receiving press coverage in 114 countries. The videos are produced and created by The 杏MAP导航 Video Prayer Network team, coordinated by Andrea Sarubbi, and distributed by La Machi Communication for Good Causes. The project is sponsored by . More information: