Pope Leo XIV has announced his prayer intention for February through the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network and the “Pray with the Pope” campaign. This month, the focus is on children facing incurable diseases, asking the Church and all people of goodwill to join in prayer for them, their families, and those who care for them daily.

In his prayer, the Pope evokes the tenderness with which Jesus welcomed and blessed children. “Lord Jesus, who took the little ones into your arms and blessed them with tenderness, today we present to you the children living with incurable diseases. Their fragile bodies are a sign of your presence, and their smiles, even in the midst of pain, are a witness to your Kingdom,” Leo XIV wrote. The Pontiff implores that these children may never lack appropriate medical care, close and compassionate human attention, or the support of a loving community.

Likewise, he entrusts families to find strength in hope despite emotional exhaustion, and healthcare professionals—doctors, nurses, and caregivers—to ensure that their work is always a reflection of compassion, patience, and genuine affection. Finally, he invites the entire Church to allow itself to be transformed by the very sentiments of the Heart of Christ, so that, through prayer and concrete service, fragility may become an opportunity for consolation, hope, and the proclamation of new life, even in the most difficult moments.

The monthly video, filmed at the Church of San Pellegrino in the Vatican, shows the Pope holding drawings made by children treated at the Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome, many of whom suffer from serious illnesses. These visual gestures underscore the Pontiff’s closeness to this painful reality.

The harsh reality of incurable childhood illnesses

Figures from international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) reveal the magnitude of the problem: approximately 400,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in children and adolescents aged 0 to 19, making it one of the leading causes of death in this age group. While the cure rate exceeds 80% in high-income countries, it falls below 30% in low- and middle-income nations, highlighting profound inequalities in access to specialized treatments.

UNICEF estimates that more than 2.1 billion children and adolescents under the age of 20 live with chronic illnesses or long-term health conditions, such as cancer, type 1 diabetes, and cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. Each year, nearly one million children die from these causes, many of which are preventable or treatable with adequate healthcare. These illnesses, often linked to genetic, metabolic, or environmental factors, represent a global challenge that demands more inclusive health systems, with an emphasis on palliative care and comprehensive protection for the most vulnerable children.

The Worldwide Prayer Network: uniting hearts in solidarity

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which unites millions of people in more than 90 countries, has frequently accompanied prayer intentions related to suffering from illness. In February 2024, for example, under the pontificate of Francis, prayers were offered for the terminally ill, emphasizing that no one is “uncarable” and that everyone deserves medical, psychological, spiritual, and human support.

Father Cristóbal Fones, director of the Network, points out that “there are serious illnesses that, although they don’t lead to immediate death, are prolonged because they are incurable. This is especially heartbreaking when it affects children who are just beginning their lives, and their entire family.” He adds that the massive participation in this initiative—more than 20 million people—generates hope, as it touches hearts and strengthens a concrete network of solidarity that accompanies these children and supports their families.

With this proposed prayer, Leo XIV renews the call to look at fragility not as a limit, but as a place where the face of God is revealed and where the Christian community is called to respond with active love and unwavering hope.