FATIMA, Portugal (CNS) — Entrusting Pope Francis’ pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima, Cardinal Jose da Cruz Policarpo of Lisbon, Portugal, asked Mary to give the pope courage and strength, particularly as he moves to renew and reform the Catholic Church.
“Give him the gift of discernment to know how to identify the ways of renewal of the church; give him the courage not to hesitate to follow the ways suggested by the Holy Spirit; support him in the hard hours of suffering to overcome with the charity the trials that the renewal of the church will bring,” the cardinal prayed May 13, the feast of Our Lady of Fatima.
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Cardinal Policarpo recited the prayer, which he wrote himself, at the end of a Mass concluding a major international pilgrimage to Fatima for the feast day marking the 96th anniversary of the apparition of Mary to three children.
“We consecrate to you, Our Lady, mother of the church, the ministry of the new pope,” he prayed. “Fill his heart with the tenderness of God that you experienced so that he can embrace all the men and women of our age with the love of your son Jesus Christ.”
The Portuguese cardinal, who participated in the conclave that elected Pope Francis, said the new pope had asked him twice to consecrate his pontificate to Our Lady of Fatima. He also asked Mary to give Pope Francis “the desire to be a pilgrim to this shrine.”
But Pope Francis was not the only object of a special consecration during the mid-May pilgrimage; at a Mass May 12 at the Fatima shrine, Archbishop Orani Joao Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro entrusted to Mary all the young people who are preparing to attend World Youth Day in Rio with Pope Francis in July.
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I, too, pray the Rosary daily for the Holy Father to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I felt the joy when I saw the “Path to Peace” booklet and read of Pope Francis’ dedication to Our Lady of Fatima.To me,a large part of dedication is fulfilling the request. When I searched online for indications of the consecration, all I could find was information on Pope Francis consecrating the world to Our Lady of Fatima. It is my hope and prayer that this is just a lot of talk and the Pope will finally do what needs done “for the sake” of the world!
I knew it is Pope Francis will consecrate Russia because I felt it and saw his face as humble and solemn face on March 13, 2013.
I pray with my ROSARY everyday for the Holy Father to consecrate Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary with world’s Catholic bishops on the same day.
Our Lady of Fatima said, “In the end, My Immauclate Heart will triumph. Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me and she will be converted. A period of peace will be granted to the world”
Let me clarify. In no way did I mean to imply Pope John Paul II had pride. Consecration of the world was a valid and worthy deed but it was not what Our Lady requested. The freemasons inside the Vatican according to Fr.Gruner are a major reason why this consecration has not taken place. Go to Fatima.org for video links to Fr.Gruner videos on youtube. Thanks
I hope Pope Francis consecrates Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart is not the same as the consecration of Russia. For example. If I asked my son to go out and buy a pint of strawberries and instead he brings me a strawberry shortcake, its not equal and its not the same thing. God requires obedience to The Mother of God, Mary; man is so full of pride we need to obey God. From what I have seen and heard about Pope Francis he’ll be the one to consecrate Russia. Let’s pray that he can accomplish this for the world; to bring about the era of peace and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. AVE MARIA