Prayer in preparation for Pope Francis’ visit to Belgium
Lord our God,
You entrust to the successor of the Apostle Peter
the mission of strengthening your people in the faith and serving their unity.
We thank you for the visit of Pope Francis to our country
and we ask you to watch over him.
May your Holy Spirit guide and assist him.
May this same Spirit, we pray,
be given in abundance to your Church in Belgium.
May it give her new impetus.
May her faithful people welcome the joy of the Gospel
and proclaim it by their words and deeds.
May they be particularly attentive
to show your mercy to their suffering sisters and brothers.
You who watch over all peoples with tenderness, look upon our country.
Enable its inhabitants to work together for the common good and justice.
May they work for peace in the world
by recognising every human being as a sister or brother.
Inspire teachers, researchers and students
in the search for truth and wisdom.
May their knowledge be placed at the service of human dignity
and the preservation of our common home.
Virgin Mary, Seat of Wisdom and Mother of Mercy,
watch over your children as they gather around their shepherd Pope Francis.
And grant us, in the footsteps of Jesus your Son, to set out on our journey with hope!
Amen.
+ Luc Terlinden
Archbishop of Malines-Bruxelles