(OSV News) - Pope Leo XIV turns 70 on Sept. 14, and OSV News is celebrating by gathering a host of prayers into a very special "spiritual birthday bouquet" for the Holy Father. The best part? Everyone can participate.
In partnership with Pray More Novenas, Relevant Radio, the Daughters of St. Paul, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Pontifical Mission Societies, Sing the Hours and more, OSV News is encouraging an outpouring of prayer for Pope Leo and his intentions leading up to his milestone birthday - and his first birthday as pope.
Called "Pizza and Prayer," the spiritual bouquet will be made up of a variety of prayer options from a full novena to a Holy Hour to a rosary. Each prayer effort will be noted, collated and sent to the pope. OSV News is also encouraging participants, when possible, to pray together and then grab a slice of pizza in honor of one of the Chicago native's favorite treats. The name of every person and organization who participates in this spiritual bouquet will be included on the card OSV News will send to the Vatican.
"One of the most important things that we can do as Catholics is pray for the pope and for his intentions," said Gretchen R. Crowe, editor-in-chief of OSV News. "The modern Petrine ministry is one of the most challenging roles in the world. As Pope Leo XIV prepares to celebrate this special birthday, we want him to be surrounded by prayer, and we hope everyone will participate in this special effort."
Partners around the United States and the world are participating.
"We are so happy to join the OSV News Spiritual Bouquet for Pope Leo's birthday!" said Father Francis (Rocky) Hoffman of Relevant Radio. "From Thursday, Sept. 4 to Sunday, Sept. 14, we will offer our Family Rosary Across America on Relevant Radio at 7 pm CT for the Holy Father, and we expect we will be sending him around 1 million rosaries."
The Daughters of St. Paul, also known as the Media Nuns, also are looking forward to participating.
"As Daughters of St. Paul, our mission is to bring Christ to the world through every means of communication," said Sister Tracey Dugas. "What greater joy than to join our voices in prayer for the Holy Father on his 70th birthday! We are grateful for the opportunity to unite with so many others in offering Pope Leo XIV the gift of prayer and presence, along with a little pizza to celebrate his life and vocation."
"The most important present we can give Pope Leo for his 70th birthday is praying for him, his health and intentions," said Msgr. Roger Landry, national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies USA. "September 14 is a Sunday this year and so it's a great opportunity for his spiritual family to pray together at Mass and then to celebrate him afterward in a Sunday meal. I'm sure he'd be really pleased if we invited the poor, like he recently did at Castel Gandolfo."
To add your prayers to the pope's spiritual birthday bouquet, please note your prayer offering here. (https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8428585/479bd477a4b7).
Happy birthday, Pope Leo. You are in our prayers.
Here are some ideas
By Megan Marley, OSV News
(OSV News) -- Pope Leo XIV's 70th birthday is Sept. 14, and OSV News and many partners are gathering a spiritual bouquet of prayer for him; here are a few ideas for how to pray at home, at school and in your parish.
Be sure to add your prayers to the pope's birthday spiritual bouquet - we will be sending him a card with the prayers and names of those who participate! And tag us on social media @OSVNews so we can share your example of prayer with others.
-- At Home--
Pray a rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy or other prayer (prayer resources can be found at usccb.org/catholic-prayers)
Pray the Liturgy of the Hours with Sing the Hours (singthehours.org)
Pray a novena for the pope (a Holy Cross novena starts Sept. 6 with PrayMoreNovenas.com)
Pray the Rosary with Relevant Radio every night at 7 p.m. CT
-- At the Parish --
Have a Mass or Holy Hour for the pope
Pray a prayer or Rosary before or after Mass together (especially on his Sunday birthday!)
Invite your parish groups to say a prayer at a gathering or event
Pray a "living Rosary" where each person takes a turn in saying a prayer of the Rosary
Pray the Liturgy of the Hours as a community
-- At School --
Pray for the pope at an all-school Rosary or Mass
Incorporate a prayer on pizza day in the school cafeteria
Have children pray and create "beads" out of construction paper or balloons for a collectively created Rosary to hang in a school common area
Set up a bulletin board with paper flowers and pens so children can write prayers and pin them to the board
Color coloring sheets of the mysteries of the rosary while praying a decade for the pope
