Leo XIV: “Teach us to recognize your face in every suffering child”
The Holy Father’s prayer intention for the month of February, distributed through the “Pray with the Pope” campaign, is dedicated to children with incurable diseases
Vatican City, 5 February 2026. “For children with incurable diseases” is the intention that Pope Leo XIV is carrying in his heart for the month of February, and is distributed through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network in collaboration with the Dicastery for Communication. Through the “Pray with the Pope” campaign launched last January, which also includes The Pope Video and The Pope Audio, the Holy Father invites the entire Church and all people of goodwill to join in praying for children who are suffering and extremely vulnerable, together with their families and those who care for them.
In his prayer, which is also available in text format, the Pope focuses on Jesus’ tenderness as he welcomed the little ones, recognizing in their fragile bodies a sign of His presence, and in their smiles, a testimony to the Kingdom. The Holy Father asks that “they may never lack proper medical care, human and compassionate attention, and the support of a community that accompanies them with love”. At the same time, he prays for families, that they might be sustained in hope and by doctors, nurses, and caregivers, and that their care might always be an expression of active compassion, patience, and tenderness.
Lastly, with his intention, Pope Leo XIV invites the entire Church to be transformed by the same feelings of Christ’s Heart and that, sustained by prayer and service we might know how to accompany others who in their fragility so that, “in the midst of suffering”, we might become “a source of comfort, a seed of hope, and a proclamation of new life” for those children who are suffering and for those around them.
The video for the month of February was recorded in the Church of San Pellegrino in Vaticano. In it, the Holy Father can be seen holding drawings, some drawn by children suffering from different illnesses who are being cared for at Bambino Gesù Hospital for Children in Rome.
Children with incurable diseases
There are various serious and chronic illnesses that deeply affect millions of children and their families. Every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 400,000 children and teenagers up to the age of 19 are diagnosed with cancer, an illness that cannot be easily cured in many cases, and which is one of the leading causes of infant and adolescent death. In addition, it requires continuous care and equal access to specialized treatment. For example, more than 80% of children with cancer in high-income countries are cured, whereas less than 30% are cured in low- or middle-income countries.
On the other hand, the United Nations agency dedicated to children (UNICEF) reports that more than 2.1 billion children and adolescents under the age of 20 throughout the world are affected by chronic illnesses or long-term health conditions. Among others, these include cancer, type 1 diabetes, and heart and respiratory conditions. Each year, around 1 million children under 20 die because of these illnesses, which could be treated or effectively prevented with adequate access to healthcare treatment. These conditions are often caused by genetic, metabolic, or environmental factors that challenge healthcare systems around the globe, and highlight the urgency of a more robust response that guarantees the dignity of children, access to palliative care, and holistic protection for those most at risk.
The Worldwide Prayer Network united with those suffering from illness
This is not the first time that the Pope, through his Worldwide Prayer Network, prays for those who suffer from some type of illness. In 2024, Pope Francis’s intention for February was dedicated to the terminally ill. In it, he made the distinction between “incurable and un-carable” –underlining that “even when little chance for a cure exists, every sick person has the right to medical, psychological, spiritual and human assistance”.
As Father Cristóbal Fones, Director of the International Network, says, “there are very serious illnesses and conditions that are not deadly but last a long time. It is especially dramatic for those who are at the beginning of their lives – for children and their entire family”.
Also, along the lines of this intention, the prayer published in April 2022 focused on health care workers. In it, Pope Francis asked “governments of all the countries of the world not to forget that good healthcare, accessible to all, is a priority”.
Father Fones affirms that “it fills us with hope knowing that more than 20 million people in more than 90 countries are joining in prayer for this intention. This means that this challenging and difficult reality is touching their hearts and deepening their commitment. In this way, we are expanding the network of solidarity of real people who, even without knowing each other, will accompany these boys and girls, respectfully approach their reality, and help to support their families”.
About the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network is a Pontifical Work entrusted to the Society of Jesus. It is present in over 92 countries, forming a spiritual community of more than 22 million people who seek to live each day with availability to God’s mission. At the center of its mission are the monthly prayer intentions of the Pope, inviting its members to focus on the pressing challenges facing humanity and the Church’s mission.
It was founded in 1844 as the Apostleship of Prayer. In December 2020, Pope Francis established this Pontifical Work as a Vatican Foundation and approved its final statutes in July 2024.
