“Tell me your friends, and I will tell you who you are.” These words are but echoes of words spoken over 400 years before Christ.

They certainly offer insight into Jesus.

I suggest they also hold true of those we pray for and what we pray for.

In this Vincentian Mindwalk I offer a way of understanding Pope Francis through his prayer.

Pope Francis’ relationship with Mary

The world quickly learned that the newly elected Pope Francis considered Mary his friend and mother.

Twelve hours after his election as Pope Francis made a quiet visit to the Basilica of St. Mary Major to venerate the famous icon of Our Lady known as Salus Populi Romani (protectress of the Roman people). He placed a small bouquet of flowers before the icon and sang the Salve Regina. Cardinal Abril y Castelló, the archpriest of St. Mary Major, explained the significance of the Holy Father’s veneration:

“He decided to visit the basilica, not only to thank the Blessed Virgin, but — as Pope Francis said to me himself — to entrust her with his pontificate, to lay it at her feet. Being deeply devoted to Mary, Pope Francis came here to ask her for help and protection.”

The People Pope Francis prays for

In the following prayer on the feast of the Immaculate Conception in 2016, he tells us who he prays for and how he values.

O Mary, our Immaculate Mother, on your feast day I come to you and I come not alone:

I bring with me all those with whom your Son entrusted to me, in this city of Rome and in the entire world, that you may bless them and preserve them from harm.

I bring to you, Mother, children, especially those who are alone, abandoned, and for this reason are tricked and exploited.

I bring to you, Mother, families, who carry forward life and society with their daily and hidden efforts; in a special way the families who struggle the most for their many internal and external problems.

I bring to you, Mother, all workers, both men and women, and I entrust to you especially those who, out of need, are forced to work in an unworthy professions and those who have lost work or are unable to find it.

We are in need of your immaculate gaze, to rediscover the ability to look upon persons and things with respect and awareness, without egotistical or hypocritical interests.

We are in need of your immaculate heart, to love freely, without secondary aims but seeking the good of the other, with simplicity and sincerity, renouncing masks and tricks.

We are in need of your immaculate hands, to caress with tenderness, to touch the flesh of Jesus in our poor, sick, or despised brethren, to raise up those who have fallen and support those who waver.

We are in need of your immaculate feet, to go toward those who know not how to make the first step, to walk on the paths of those who are lost, to find those who feel alone.

We thank you, O Mother, because in showing yourself to us you free us of all stain of sin;

You remind us that what comes first is the grace of God,

The love of Jesus Christ who gave his life for us,

The strength of the Holy Spirit which renews all things.

Let us not give in to discouragement, but, trusting in your constant help, let us engage ourselves fully in renewal of self, of this city and of the entire world

Pray for us, Holy Mother of God!

Originally posted on Vincentian Mindwalk