5 Prayers for the Conclave as They Select a New Pope

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1. Pray for Discernment

The Bible makes it clear that there are qualifications that need to be taken into consideration for someone taking a leadership role. It’s written in 1 Timothy 3:2 that someone being appointed to a leadership role should be “blameless.” The Greek word here can also be translated as “refusing to dispute” or “refusing to speak against others.” Titus 3:9-11 adds a bit of detail to this idea: “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”

Other characteristics the Bible says are important to leadership besides being blameless include, “husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous” (1 Timothy 3:2-3).

Additional characteristics that apply to someone who is a godly leader can be found in Galatians 5:22-23, which notes the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Prayer prompt: Pray that the Conclave would be able to discern strong leadership characteristics as they vote for the new Pope.

2. Pray for Wisdom

Certainly, wisdom is needed when choosing someone for a leadership role. While education is important, if the ability to apply what’s been learned is lacking, that education doesn’t help a great deal. Experience is often where wisdom is gained for any education that has been obtained, whether it’s a formal classroom education or a person is self-taught through various materials they’ve sought out. The more experience a person has, the more effective they usually are if they choose to take on a leadership role. It’s written in James 1:5 that if anyone lacks wisdom, they can ask God to give it, and He will pour it out liberally on the requestor.

Prayer prompt: Pray that the Conclave would seek the Lord for His will regarding who should be the new Pope.

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3. Pray for Peace and Unity within the Conclave

Most of the Cardinal electors were appointed by Pope Francis during his 12-year run as the Pope. There are 108 that he appointed out of 135. Those 108 appointees represent 71 different countries, with 10 of the appointees being from the United States. The Conclave will take place on Wednesday, but everyone in the Vatican will take an oath of secrecy on Monday. A minimum of two-thirds plus one of the Cardinals must be in agreement on who the new Pope will be. The last few occasions have gone quickly, and only two days are needed for the new Pope to be elected. However, there have been many occasions when it took longer, the longest being nearly three years, according to CBS News.

Prayer prompt: Pray that the Conclave would sense the peace of God and be in unity quickly as they make their decision about the new Pope.  

4. Pray for Peace and Unity within the Church

Some electors are more conservative than others in their beliefs and interpretation of the Bible and Catholic doctrine. For example, Pope Francis tended to be more liberal in his views regarding issues such as immigration, climate change, and the LGBTQ+ community. Of course, the Catholic Church has members who also tend in one direction more so than the other.

Prayer prompt: Pray that the new Pope will fear God more than the people (Acts 5:29, Proverbs 29:25) and will lead in accordance with Biblical principles. 

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5. Pray for the Future Pope’s Spiritual Well-being and Strength

After the newly elected Pope accepts his election, chooses his papal name, and is ordained, he is then taken to a small room next to the Sistine Chapel to change into traditional papal robes. The name of that room is “Room of Tears.” The reason it was given that name is because many new popes become so overwhelmed with emotion and the weight of such a high-ranking spiritual leadership position that they begin to weep as they put on the robes, according to CNN.  

Prayer prompt: Pray that the Lord will draw near to the new Pope in such a way that the Pope will have an ever-deepening relationship with Him, that his ability to sense the leading of the Holy Spirit will be deepened, and that the will of the Lord would be done on earth even as it is in Heaven.