Today Pope Francis addressed both leaders and non-leaders. He spoke about the importance of being aware that each person is subordinate to someone more powerful. He said that Christians must pray for their leaders, even if they don't agree with them.
POPE FRANCIS
“I ask you this favor: every one of you take five minutes, no more. If you are a leader, ask yourself: ‘Do I pray to the One who gave me power through the people?’ If you are not a leader, ‘Do I pray for my leaders? 1:00 FLASH 1:11 And if you find in your examination of conscience before Confession that you have not prayed for your leaders, bring it to Confession. Because not to pray for leaders is a sin.”
Pope Francis called each person to engage in intercessory prayer for all kings and leaders. He said it is through prayers that the world will regain a calm and peaceful way of life.
EXCERPTS OF POPE'S HOMILY IN ENGLISH
“This man felt the need to pray because he was aware that he did not have everything under his control. He knew that above him was another who was really in charge. The centurion had soldiers as subordinates but he was also aware of being a subordinate. This awareness led him to pray.
If leaders do not pray, they close themselves off in a self-referential circle or in that of their party, a circle from which they cannot escape. It is important to be aware that we are all subordinate to someone more powerful. And those who are more powerful than political leaders, he suggested, are both the people who gave those leaders their power, “and God from whom their power comes through the people. Political leaders pray when they are aware of being a subordinate.
We need to accompany them with our prayer, he said. Christians must pray for their leaders, even if they do “bad things”. In this case, the Pope continued, they need prayer even more: Pray, and do penance for leaders. Intercessory prayer is such a wonderful thing, as Paul says. It is to be done for all kings, for all persons in positions of power. Why? ‘So that we can live a calm and peaceful life.’ When a leader is free and can govern in peace, the whole population benefits.
I ask you this favor: every one of you take five minutes, no more. If you are a leader, ask yourself: ‘Do I pray to the One who gave me power through the people?’ If you are not a leader, ‘Do I pray for my leaders? Yes, for this one and that one, yes, because I like them; but for that one, no.’ They need it so much more for this reason! ‘Do I pray for all leaders?’ And if you find in your examination of conscience before Confession that you have not prayed for your leaders, bring it to Confession. Because not to pray for leaders is a sin.”
