Pope Leo XIV has called on Catholics around the world to pray this February for children suffering from incurable diseases and their families, emphasizing compassion, medical care, and community support. The February prayer intention was published on 5 February 2026 as part of the “Pray with the Pope” initiative, accompanied by a video recorded in the Church of St. Pellegrino at the Vatican, where the Pope is seen holding drawings by children cared for at Rome’s Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital.
Opening his prayer with an invocation to “Lord Jesus, who welcomed the little ones in your arms and blessed them tenderly,” Pope Leo highlighted that the fragile bodies of ill children bear witness to God’s presence and that their smiles, even amid suffering, reflect the coming of God’s Kingdom. He prayed that these children never lack proper medical care, compassionate attention, and loving support from their communities.
The Holy Father also prayed for the families, caregivers, and medical personnel who accompany these children, asking the Holy Spirit to grant them patience, tenderness, and strength in their difficult work. He invited the faithful to recognize Christ’s face in every suffering child, allowing their vulnerability to awaken compassion and inspire concrete gestures of solidarity.
Pope Leo concluded by urging that the Church become a source of comfort and hope, upholding fragility in the midst of suffering and living out Christian charity in tangible acts of love.