Prayers from the Tradition of the Church for the Election of Pope Leo XIV
Prayers from the Tradition of the Church upon the Election of Pope Leo XIV
Ad libitum from the day of the election of Pope Leo XIV.
Let us pray for Leo, our Pope.
May the Lord protect him
and grant him length of days.
Amen.
May the Lord be his shield
and deliver him from all harm.
Amen.
May the Lord give him happiness
and peace
all the days of his life.
Amen.
— This versicle and its response were formerly sung at the end of the litany of the saints.
We praise you, O God:
we acclaim you as the Lord.
Everlasting Father,
all the world bows down before you.
All the angels sing your praise,
the hosts of heaven and all the angel powers,
all the cherubim and seraphim
call out to you in unending song:
Holy, Holy, Holy,
is the Lord God of angel hosts!
The heavens and the earth are filled
with your majesty and glory.
The glorious band of apostles,
the noble company of prophets,
the white-robed army who shed their blood for Christ,
all sing your praises.
And to the ends of the earth
your holy Church proclaims her faith in you:
Father, whose majesty is boundless,
your true and only Son, who is to be adored,
the Holy Spirit sent to be our Advocate.
You, O Christ, are the King of glory,
Son of the eternal Father.
When you took our nature to save mankind
you did not shrink from birth in the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the power of death
opening the Father’s kingdom to all who believe in you.
Enthroned at God’s right hand in the glory of the Father,
you will come in judgment according to your promise.
You redeemed your people by your precious blood.
Come, we implore you, to our aid.
Grant us with the saints
a place in glory everlasting.
Lord, save you people
and bless your inheritance.
Rule them and uphold them
for ever and ever.
Day by day we praise you:
we acclaim you now and to all eternity.
In your goodness, Lord, keep us free from sin.
Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
May your mercy always be with us, Lord,
for we have hoped in you.
In you, Lord, we put our trust:
we shall not be put to shame.
— 4th century in origin; possibly by
St Nicetas of Remesiana
O God, who in your providential design
willed that your Church be built upon blessed Peter,
whom you set over the other Apostles, look with favour,
we pray, on Leo our Pope and grant that he,
whom you have made Peter’s successor,
may be for your people a visible source and
foundation of unity in faith and of communion.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
— Roman Missal
Lord, have mercy – Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy – Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy – Lord, have mercy
God our Father in Heaven – have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world – have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit – have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, One God – have mercy on us
Jesus, Son of the living God – have mercy on us
Jesus, splendour of the Father – have mercy on us
Jesus, brightness of everlasting light – have mercy on us
Jesus, king of glory – have mercy on us
Jesus, dawn of justice – have mercy on us
Jesus, Son the Virgin Mary – have mercy on us
Jesus, worthy of our love – have mercy on us
Jesus, worthy of our wonder – have mercy on us
Jesus, mighty God – have mercy on us
Jesus, father of the world to come – have mercy on us
Jesus, prince of peace – have mercy on us
Jesus, all-powerful – have mercy on us
Jesus, pattern of patience – have mercy on us
Jesus, model of obedience – have mercy on us
Jesus, gentle and humble of heart – have mercy on us
Jesus, lover of chastity – have mercy on us
Jesus, lover of us all – have mercy on us
Jesus, God of peace – have mercy on us
Jesus, author of life – have mercy on us
Jesus, model of goodness – have mercy on us
Jesus, seeker of souls – have mercy on us
Jesus, our God – have mercy on us
Jesus, our refuge – have mercy on us
Jesus, father of the poor – have mercy on us
Jesus, treasure of the faithful – have mercy on us
Jesus, Good Shepherd – have mercy on us
Jesus, the true light – have mercy on us
Jesus, eternal wisdom – have mercy on us
Jesus, infinite goodness – have mercy on us
Jesus, our way and our life – have mercy on us
Jesus, joy of angels – have mercy on us
Jesus, king of patriarchs – have mercy on us
Jesus, teacher of apostles – have mercy on us
Jesus, master of evangelists – have mercy on us
Jesus, courage of martyrs – have mercy on us
Jesus, light of confessors – have mercy on us
Jesus, purity of virgins – have mercy on us
Jesus, crown of all saints – have mercy on us
Lord, be merciful – Jesus, save your people
From all evil – Jesus, save your people
From every sin – Jesus, save your people
From the snares of the devil – Jesus, save your people
From your anger – Jesus, save your people
From the spirit of infidelity – Jesus, save your people
From everlasting death – Jesus, save your people
From neglect of your Holy Spirit – Jesus, save your people
By the mystery of your incarnation – Jesus, save your people
By your birth – Jesus, save your people
By your childhood – Jesus, save your people
By your hidden life – Jesus, save your people
By your public ministry – Jesus, save your people
By your agony – Jesus, save your people
By your agony and crucifixion – Jesus, save your people
By your abandonment – Jesus, save your people
By your grief and sorrow – Jesus, save your people
By your death and burial – Jesus, save your people
By your rising to new life – Jesus, save your people
By your return in glory to the Father – Jesus, save your people
By your gift of the holy eucharist – Jesus, save your people
By your joy and glory – Jesus, save your people
Christ, hear us – Christ, hear us
Lord Jesus, hear our prayer – Lord Jesus, hear our prayer
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world – have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world – have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world – have mercy on us
Let us pray.
As we venerate the most holy Name of Jesus,
mercifully grant us, Lord,
that, savouring its sweetness in this life,
we may be filled with everlasting joy
in our heavenly homeland.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
— The origins of this litany, a commentary on Philippians 2:9-11, can be traced back to the fifteenth century, and some of the invocations, in a more elaborate form, are in the Litany of our Blessed Saviour found in seventeenth century manuals. In its present form it was approved by Leo XIII(1810-1903) for use throughout the world.
Lord, have mercy – Lord, have mercy
Christ, have mercy – Christ, have mercy
Lord, have mercy – Lord, have mercy
God our Father in heaven – have mercy on us
God the Son, Redeemer of the world – have mercy on us
God the Holy Spirit – have mercy on us
Holy Trinity, one God – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, Son of the eternal Father – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, formed by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mother – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, one with the eternal Word – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, infinite in majesty – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, aflame with love for us – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of justice and love – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, well-spring of all virtue – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, worthy of all praise – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, king and centre of all hearts – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, treasure-house of wisdom and knowledge – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom there dwells the fullness of God – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, from whose fullness we have all received – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, desire of the eternal hills – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, patient and full of mercy – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, generous to all who turn to you – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, fountain of life and holiness – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, atonement for our sins – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, overwhelmed with insults – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, broken for our sins – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, obedient even to death – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, pieced by a lance – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, salvation of all who trust in you – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, hope of all who die in you – have mercy on us
Heart of Jesus, delight of all the saints – have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world – have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world – have mercy on us
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world – have mercy on us
V. Jesus, gentle and humble of heart.
R. Touch our hearts and make them like your own.
Let us pray.
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that we, who glory in the Heart of your beloved Son
and recall the wonders of his love for us,
may be made worthy to receive
an overflowing measure of grace
from that fount of heavenly gifts.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
— Many of the invocations in this litany can be traced to the seventeenth century.
The litany was approved by Leo XIII (1810-1903).
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation.
All rights reserved. Excerpts from the English translation of A Book of Prayers © 1982, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
Te Deum © 1974 the hierarchies of Australia, England and Wales, Ireland.
Other material is deemed to be in the public domain.
This material may be freely copied for non-commercial local use.
This resource was prepared by the Liturgy Office of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
