10/02/2026
Pope Leo XIV has dedicated his prayer intention for October 2026 to mental health ministry, inviting the Church to become a place of welcome and hope for those who suffer.
In the accompanying “Pray with the Pope” video, the Holy Father holds an image of St. Dymphna, patroness of those with mental illness, and addresses God as the One who knows “the silent wounds that sometimes no one sees.” He prays: “Today we bring before you our brothers and sisters who struggle with challenges to their mental health, who suffer in solitude with anxiety, depression, or any other mental illness.”
Pope Leo asks forgiveness for the times Christians have looked away or contributed to stigma. He asks that the Church become “a safe space where everyone has a place—a community that accompanies and never excludes, that listens without judging and draws near without fear.”
He also remembers caregivers, family members, and professionals, asking God to strengthen them. The prayer concludes: “Send your Spirit upon us, that we may learn to welcome and integrate care for mental health into the life and ministry of our communities and of the whole Church, and thus become a living sign of your mercy, which never abandons and always restores.”
With more than a billion people worldwide living with mental disorders, the Pope’s intention calls the entire Church to greater compassion and practical care.
