Pope Francis has issued an ‘urgent action’ prayer intention for the month of January, naming the homeless during the continuing cold weather sweeping Europe.
“During these very cold days,” he said, “I think of and I invite you to think of all the people who live on the streets, affected by the cold and many times by indifference. Unfortunately some didn’t make it. Let us pray for them, and let us ask the Lord to warm our hearts so as to be able to help them.”
In an updating of the monthly prayer intentions, Pope Francis intends to offer a second, ‘urgent action’ intention each month in response to issues. His original prayuer intention for January is for Christian unity: “that all Christians may be faithful to the Lord’s teaching by striving with prayer and fraternal charity to restore ecclesial communion and by collaborating to meet the challenges facing humanity.”