Pray with the Pope: For evangelization in the city | August 2026

Today’s cities are filled with contrasts. They are places of freedom and opportunity, as well as anonymity and loneliness for many who live in them. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of urban life, millions of people seek deeper meaning for their lives, often without finding it. This reality is especially concerning for those living on the margins and for those who feel invisible in the midst of the multitude.

In his August prayer intention, Pope Leo invites us to pray for the evangelization of the city so that the Church might know how to reach out to everyone, offering comfort, community, and the joy of the Gospel in every corner of the city.

You are not alone. By praying, you join the millions of people who belong to the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network who, from every corner of the world, are praying for humanity’s challenges and the Church’s mission.

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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd,

You walk through our streets and squares,

enter tall buildings and humble neighborhoods,

and silently accompany millions

who seek meaning amid noise and haste.

You know, Lord, the heart of the city:

its lights and shadows, its noise and loneliness.

We know that cities are called to be places of freedom and opportunity,

but they can also become spaces of anonymity and isolation.

That’s why today we ask You for a renewed gaze,

able to discover in urban life

fertile ground for proclaiming your Gospel.

Give us a creative and deep faith,

that doesn’t remain in words,

but becomes flesh through simple and loving gestures.

Make us a Church that goes forth,

able to reach out to the peripheries,

to console those who are lonely,

and to sow fraternity and connection instead of giving in to indifference.

Lord, may our urban communities

be open and welcoming homes,

places where hope is shared,

where no one feels invisible,

and where the joy of your Gospel shines

in the hidden lives of so many brothers and sisters.

Make us your witnesses in the city,

bold and creative missionaries,

who proclaim your Love with their lives—

a Love capable of overcoming haste, noise, and anonymity.

Amen.

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PRODUCED BY:

Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network

In collaboration with Vatican Media www.vaticannews.va "