With Pope Retiring, Knights of Columbus Ask Members and All the Faithful to Pray

"Prayer for the Church in Anticipation of the Vacancy of the See of St. Peter"

NEW HAVEN, Conn., Feb. 11, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Knights of Columbus – the world's largest Catholic fraternal group – is asking its members and all Catholics to pray for the pope and the Church in anticipation of Pope Benedict XVI's retirement, scheduled for the end of this month.

The prayer, written by Knights of Columbus Supreme Chaplain Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, reads:

"O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of Your Church,
we thank you for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI
and the selfless care with which he has led us
as Successor of Peter, and Your Vicar on earth.

Good Shepherd, who founded Your Church
on the rock of Peter's faith
and have never left Your flock untended,
look with love upon us now, 
and sustain Your Church in faith, hope, and charity.

Grant, Lord Jesus, in Your boundless love for us,
a new Pope for Your Church
who will please You by his holiness
and lead us faithfully to You, 
who are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Amen."

The prayer is available online at www.kofc.org.

"Until a new pope is elected, we encourage all members of the Knights of Columbus, their families and all Catholics to say this prayer daily for Pope Benedict, for the Church, and for our future pope," said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson.

The Knights of Columbus has worked closely with the Vatican during the Pontificate of Pope Benedict. In December of 2012, at St. Peter's Basilica, the pope addressed attendees of a conference co-sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. 

Supreme Knight Anderson serves on several Vatican committees, and has worked both with Pope Benedict XVI and with his predecessor Blessed John Paul II. Earlier today, Anderson released a statement noting:

"In these remaining days of his papacy, our thoughts and prayers are with Pope Benedict XVI, who has worked so hard in leading the Church, and has always been such a good friend to the Knights of Columbus. We wish him all the best in his retirement. In addition, we pray for all those cardinals who will take part in the conclave, and for his successor, that God may inspire them as they carry out the mission with which they are entrusted."

SOURCE Knights of Columbus