Mental health focus for Pope’s October prayer intention

By CathNews New Zealand

October 6th, 2026

A screenshot from the video announcing Pope Leo's prayer intention for October (Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network)

In announcing his prayer intention for October 2026, Pope Leo has expressed his desire that the Church may be an “open house” where people facing challenges to their mental health find welcome, dignity and hope. Source: Vatican News.

Holding an image of St Dymphna, patroness of people suffering from mental disorders and of mental health professionals, the Pope addresses the “God of life”, who knows the innermost depths of our hearts and “the silent wounds that sometimes no one sees.”

“Today we bring before you our brothers and sisters who struggle with challenges to their mental health, who suffer in solitude with anxiety, depression or any other mental illness,” he prays.

Pope Leo asks forgiveness for the times when Christians have looked the other way, contributing to stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses.

He prays that the Church may become “a safe space where everyone has a place – a community that accompanies and never excludes, that listens without judging and draws near without fear”.

The Pope also seeks a blessing on those who provide care, including professionals, family members and volunteers.

“Send your Spirit upon us, that we may learn to welcome and integrate care for mental health into the life and ministry of our communities and of the whole Church,” he says, “and thus become a living sign of your mercy, which never abandons and always restores.”

According to the press release accompanying the Pope’s intention, more than 1 billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder.

Fr Cristóbal Fones, international director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, noted that many people experiencing mental illness have felt unable to speak about it or have encountered judgement and misunderstanding.

“That is why, as a Church, we come together to open our hearts to this reality and to pray together, throughout this entire month, for all of them and also for those who accompany them,” he said.

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FULL STORY

Pope’s October prayer intention: ‘For mental health ministry’ (Vatican News/By Francesca Merlo)