Pope Francis’ Five Finger Prayer
The Five Finger Prayer was written by Cardinal Bergoglio when he was still the Archbishop in Argentina. It was attributed to him well before he became Pope Francis.
How To Say Pope Francis’ 5 Finger Prayer
Using the fingers on your hand, start with the thumb and pray these intentions in this order:
1. Thumb: For The Ones We Love
The thumb is the closest finger to you. So start praying for those who are closest to you. They are the persons easiest to remember. To pray for our dear ones is a “Sweet Obligation.” Pray for your family and friends. Pray for your parents, your grandparents, your sisters and your brothers, your aunts, uncles, cousins, and closest friends.
2. Index Finger: For The Ones That Teach Us
The next finger is the index. Pray for those who teach you, instruct you and heal you. Pray for the people who point you in the right direction. They need the support and wisdom to provide guidance to others. Always keep them in your prayers. Pray for your teachers, coaches, catechists, tutors, priests, and anyone else who teaches you.
3. Middle Finger: For Our Leaders
The following finger is the tallest. It reminds us of our leaders, the governors, and those who have authority. They need God’s guidance. Pray for the leaders of our country to have the wisdom and judgment to lead us well. Pray for the leaders of our country, our world, and our Church. Pray for the pope and his continued leadership of the Church.
4. Ring Finger: For The Sick And Weakest
The fourth finger is the ring finger. Even though it may surprise you, it is our weakest finger. We can’t move it without the help of our other fingers. It should remind us to pray for the weakest, the sick or those plagued by problems. They need your prayers. Pray for the sick who need help and healing. Pray for the poor and suffering who need God’s comfort and help too.
5. The Pinky Finger: For Yourself
Finally, we have our smallest finger, the smallest of all. Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. When you are done praying for the other four groups, you will be able to see your own needs, but with the proper perspective, and so you will be able to pray for your own needs in a better way. Jesus taught us to be humble so we pray for ourselves last with our pinky finger.
“I wish to be close to and pray for the people who are sick because of the virus that has spread through China. May the Lord welcome the dead into his peace, comfort families and sustain the great commitment by the Chinese community that has already been put in place to combat the epidemic.” – Pope Francis