With Francesca Pollio Fenton

CNA Staff, 2 November 2024 / 05:00

Pope Francis’ prayer intention for November is for those who have lost a child.

“What can we say to parents who have lost their children? How can we console them? There are no words,” the Holy Father said in a video released on October 31.

“When one spouse loses the other, they become a widow or widower. A child who loses his parents is an orphan. There’s a word for this. But when a parent loses a child, there are no words. “The pain is so great that there are no words to say.”

“And it’s not natural for you to outlive your child. “The pain of this loss is particularly intense,” he said. “Sometimes words of encouragement are banal or sentimental and don’t work. “Of course, when said with the best of intentions, they can aggravate the wound.”

To console parents who have lost their children, the Pope said: “We need to listen to them, be close to them with love, deal responsibly with the pain they feel, and imitate how Jesus Christ consoles those who suffer. ”

“And parents sustained by their faith can surely find solace in other families who have been subjected to such terrible tragedy and are reborn with hope.”

He concluded with this prayer: “Let us pray that all parents grieving the loss of a son or daughter may find support in their communities and receive peace of mind from the Spirit of Comfort.”

Pope Francis’ prayer video is being advertised The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Networkthis raises awareness of the pope’s monthly prayer intentions.

Francesca is the Social Media Manager for the Catholic News Agency. He graduated from the University of Colorado at Denver with a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Digital Media.