Cardinal Burke Calls On Catholics Worldwide To Pray For The New Pope
May 20, 2025
By Veronica Flamenco
Cardinal Raymond Burke launched a new prayer campaign, this time for Pope Leo XIV on the day of the Pope’s official installation, May 18, 2025.
The campaign, announced via a statement on the website of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, calls on Catholics worldwide to pray daily for the new pope, invoking the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Cardinal Burke emphasizes the critical role of prayer in supporting Pope Leo XIV, whom he describes as needing divine graces to serve as a “true Shepherd” of the Catholic Church during challenging times.
His eminence Burke was one of the cardinal electors that participated in the recent 2025 Conclave that elected Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost. Cardinal Burke’s statement underscores the spiritual significance of the Pope’s role as the Successor of St. Peter and the Vicar of Christ, urging Catholics to assist the pontiff through consistent prayer. The prayer campaign includes a specific prayer, available in multiple languages (English, Spanish, Latin, and others), accessible on the shrine’s website. This prayer asks for God’s guidance and strength for Pope Leo XIV to lead the Church faithfully and foster unity among the faithful.
The Cardinal’s call to prayer is framed as a response to the difficulties facing the Church, with the article quoting his invocation of traditional Catholic phrases such as “¡Viva Cristo Rey! ¡Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! ¡Viva el Papa!” (Long live Christ the King! Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe! Long live the Pope!).
Daily Prayer for Pope Leo XIV, Vicar of Christ on Earth and Shepherd of the Universal Church
O Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of the Lord of Heaven and of Earth, Our Lady of Guadalupe, guide and protect the Roman Pontiff, Pope Leo XIV. Through your intercession, may he receive in… pic.twitter.com/BTsofA5h3b
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) May 20, 2025
During Pope Leo XIV’s installation Mass at St. Peter’s Square on May 18th attended world leaders like U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Britain’s Prince Edward and many others, signaling the global significance of the event. The Pope, as the Vicar or Christ, doesn’t only influence the members of the Catholic Church but also the entire world.
We need to continue praying for Pope Leo XIV’s mission to guide the Church in a divided world. Let us join Cardinal Burke’s initiative – which enthusiastically represents a unifying effort for Catholics around the globe to rally behind our new Pope.
¡Viva el Papa!
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