I sleep but my heart is awake (Song 5:2).

By Brother Patrick

Not long ago, Reverend William J. Barber, a minister and civil rights activist, was asked how the death of Pope Francis (1936-2025) might affect the causes that were close to the heart of the Holy Father’s long life and ministry. Reverend Barber said that the pope’s passing requires others to carry on his mission with the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. He then declared: “We must now say: ‘I am Pope Francis.'”

In this spirit, the Assisi Project hopes that our friends and followers around the world will join us in affirming with heart and voice: “We are Pope Francis!” As a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit, we have discerned a compelling call: to continue our humble efforts to promote the life, legacy and teachings of Pope Francis; to encourage a devotion to our beloved pope; and to what we can in our small corner of the world to advance his cause for canonization.

During his interview with The New York Times (4-24-25), Reverend Barber also said: “Pope Francis did not want us to praise his words. He wanted us to make plans to join his work!” We agree! We are Pope Francis! But what does this mean? It means building bridges, not walls. It means renewing our commitment to care for our common home. It means praying and working for peace in our hearts, homes, and hometowns. It means praying and working for justice and healing in our country. It means standing in solidarity with the poor, the sick, the stranger, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned.

It means standing in non-violent opposition to policies that worsen the divisions and inequalities that plague modern society. It means imitating God’s style of closeness, compassion, and tenderness in a world that is increasingly cold, cruel, and callous toward those who are in need, toward those who are hard to love, toward those who are difficult to understand. Finally, it means asking Pope Francis to pray for us and for our suffering world.

Caring about people is not political. It is Christian. It is Franciscan. From the beginning, the Assisi Project’s mission has been to help believers of all ages and backgrounds grow closer to Christ, closer to the Church, and closer to each other through the inspiration and intercession of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. Our mission has been to pray for the pope, to pray for the universal church, to pray for all who ask us to pray for them.

Our mission has been to serve as humble laborers in the Lord’s vineyard — in our parishes and local communities. And in the words of the Poor Man of Assisi: “This is our vocation: to heal wounds, to bind what is broken, and to bring home those who are lost.”

Along with Saint Francis and Saint Clare, we now ask Pope Francis to help us, to pray for us, and to strengthen us in our ministry. Brothers and sisters all! We are Pope Francis! And so, we pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:

A Prayer for the Intercession of Pope Francis

All good and gracious God,
you blessed us with a shepherd
from the ends of the earth.

Our Holy Father Francis lived long
under a cross of titles:
Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Christ,
Supreme Pontiff, Successor of Peter,
and Servant of the Servants of God.

In our hearts, we knew him best as
pastor of the poor, prophet of peace,
missionary of mercy, friend of the forgotten,
witness to the gospel, apostle of humility,
artisan of fraternity,
consoler of the sick and sorrowful,
champion of the migrant and refugee,
and shepherd of the lost and left behind.

Our Holy Father Francis now sleeps but his heart is awake!
He waits in silent prayer for the last day:
among the saints next door,
among the cloud of witnesses,
who walk with us, pray for us,
and protect us on the journey of life.

From our poverty, we now ask him to intercede for us:
For peace, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For the poor, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For the persecuted, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For the sick & suffering, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For the migrant & refugee, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For open hearts, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For open minds, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For our common home, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For the People of God, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!
For our Holy Father, Leo XIV, we beg you: Pope Francis, pray for us!

We ask this through the Poor Christ,
our merciful redeemer, friend, and brother,
who lives and loves with you and the Holy Spirit;
God for always and evermore. Amen.

Pope Francis, pray for us!
Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us!
Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

Art by Magda – Instant Printing – Etsy.com

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. May God bless you! May the Lord give you peace!

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