O Jesus, come back into our society,
our family life, our souls,
and rule there as our peaceful king.
With the splendor of faith
and the charity of your caring heart,
bring light to the souls of those who work
for the good of others,
especially for your poor.
Give them your own spirit
of discipline, peace, and gentleness.
Preserve the flame of enthusiasm
ever burning in their hearts.
May that day come very soon,
when we shall see you, Lord,
once again at the center of everyday life,
carried on the shoulders of your joyful
people.
Amen.

—JOHN XXIII
Consecration of Society to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Journal of a Soul, 1965

Lord God almighty,
by the precious blood which Jesus shed
in the garden on the night before he died,
I ask you to release the souls in purgatory.
But among them all,
free that one soul which is most in need of help.
Bring it to your glory, Lord,
so it may praise and bless you there forever.

. . . Lord God almighty,
by the precious blood which Jesus shed
through the streets of Jerusalem when he carried the cross,
I ask you to release the souls in purgatory.
Free especially that one soul which is the most deserving.
Bring it to the throne of glory that awaits it, Lord,
so it may honor and bless you forever.

—LEO XII
Seven Daily Prayers for the Souls in Purgatory
November 18, 1826

God of all the ages,
I have come to Jerusalem,
the “City of Peace,”
spiritual home to Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.
I bring before you the joys, the hopes, and
the dreams,
the trials, the suffering, and the pain of all your people throughout the world.
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
hear the cry of those who suffer, the fearful and needy.
Send your peace upon this Holy Land,
upon the Middle East, and upon the entire human family.
Awaken the hearts of all who call on you,
to walk humbly in the path of justice and compassion.
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him” (Lam 3:25).

—BENEDICT XVI
Prayer at the Western Wall
Jerusalem, May 12, 2009

Most loving Jesus,
Savior of the human race,
look down upon us. . . .
We are yours and yours we wish to be.

Many, though, have never known you.
Many, too, who have no use for your laws,
have rejected you.

Have mercy on them all,
most merciful Jesus,
and draw them to your Sacred Heart.

O Lord, be King
not only of the faithful who have never
walked away from you,
but also of the prodigal children who have
run from you.
By your grace may they quickly return to
their Father’s house,
so they do not die of misery and hunger.

—PIUS XI
Act of Consecration of the Human Race
to the Sacred Heart
for One Fold and One Shepherd
December 11, 1925

Creator of nature and humanity,
of truth and beauty, to you I pray.
Hear my voice,
for it is the voice of the victims of all wars and violence
among individuals and nations.
Hear my voice,
for it is the voice of all children who suffer and who will suffer
when people put their faith in weapons and war.
Hear my voice
when I beg you to place in the hearts of all human beings
the vision of peace,
the strength of justice,
and the joy of friendship.

—JOHN PAUL II
Prayer at the Peace Memorial
Hiroshima, Japan, February 25, 1981

Hear my voice,
for I speak for the countless people
in every country and every period of history
who do not want war
and are ready to walk the road of peace.
Hear my voice
and give understanding and strength
so that we may always respond
to hatred with love,
to injustice with total dedication to justice,
to need with the sharing of self,
to war with peace.
O God, hear my voice,
and give to the world your everlasting peace.

—JOHN PAUL II
Prayer at the Peace Memorial
Hiroshima, Japan, February 25, 1981