In this Morning Air episode, John Morales was joined by Fr. James Kubicki, SJ, to unpack the power behind praying for the Pope’s intentions, a practice that is far more global, Eucharistic, and transformative than many realize. Their conversation centers around the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, the largest spiritual movement of its kind, stretching across continents and generations.

It all began in 1844 with a group of Jesuit seminarians in France who were frustrated that their desire to serve the missions had to wait until after their studies. Their spiritual director offered them a radical idea: they could begin their missionary work immediately, not by traveling abroad, but by offering their daily prayers and sacrifices for the needs of the world. That small spiritual effort became the foundation for what is now known as the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network.

By the 1870s, Pope Leo XIII began issuing monthly prayer intentions, and the practice has continued ever since. Today, the Holy Father’s intentions are promoted through video reflections and digital platforms, allowing millions to unite their hearts in prayer. After the death of Pope Francis, Pope Leo XIV chose to continue praying for the intentions set for 2025, embracing them fully until new ones are announced in 2026.

Fr. Kubicki emphasizes that this prayer network is not just devotional, but Eucharistic. When we pray the Morning Offering, we unite our “prayers, works, joys, and sufferings” to the sacrifice of the Mass being celebrated throughout the world. Even if we can’t make it to daily Mass, we can still participate spiritually. The Morning Offering becomes a way of living a Eucharistic life, where nothing is wasted and everything can be given to God.

John shares that this simple act has become an essential part of his day, even at 3:45 in the morning when he wakes to begin his radio show. Fr. Kubicki reflects on how he’s prayed it daily since he was a teenager. Both men stress the importance of offering not just joys and successes, but also our sufferings and setbacks, because those, too, can be transformed through union with Christ.

It’s easy to feel like our small prayers don’t make much of a difference, especially when the world feels so chaotic and divided. But Fr. Kubicki reminds us that we’re not praying alone. When we unite our intentions with the Holy Father’s, we become part of a global chorus, a spiritual symphony echoing from bedrooms, hospitals, schools, and churches across the world. It draws us deeper into the heart of Jesus, especially through devotion to His Sacred Heart, and links us to His desire for the salvation of souls.

So why not begin each day with that simple prayer? “O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings…” Then take a moment to check the Pope’s monthly intention. By joining him, you’re not just connecting with Catholics worldwide. You’re stepping into the very heart of Christ’s mission.

In the end, every moment—frustrating or joyful—can become a prayer. And that’s what makes this network so life-giving: it transforms the ordinary into the eternal.