Celebrate Pope Francis

Check out this brief biography on Pope Francis here. And you may also want to use the following liturgical suggestions for celebrating our new Pope Francis:

Liturgy of the Word

From the Old Testament
Isaiah 61: 1-3a, “The LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly.”

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 89:4-5, 21-22, 25 and 27, “For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.”

From the New Testament
Ephesians 4:11-16, “Bringing about the body’s growth, building it up in love.”
Hebrews 5: 1-10, “Christ was acclaimed by God as high priest, in the line of Melchizedek.”

Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia: John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; a good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Gospel Proclamation
John 15:9-17, “I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain.”
John 17:11b, 17-23, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.”

From the Roman Missal

A Mass and prayers that may be used on the anniversary of the papal election work well for this occasion.

The Entrance Antiphon
You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church,
And the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
To you I will give the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Collect
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 favor we pray, on Francis, 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,
One God for ever and ever.

OR

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,
Look favorably on your servant Francis
Whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;
Grant, we pray, that by word and example
He may be of service to those over whom he presides
So that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,
He may come to everlasting life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

OR

O God, who chose your servant Francis
In succession to the Apostle Peter
As shepherd of the whole flock,
Look favorably on the supplications of your people
And grant that, as Vicar of Christ on earth,
He may confirm his brethren
And that the whole Church may be in communion with him
In the bond of unity, love and peace,
So that in you, the shepherd of souls,
All may know the truth and attain life eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
One God, for ever and ever.

Prayer over Offerings
Be please, we pray, O Lord,
With the offerings presented here
And govern with unfailing protection your holy Church,
Together with Francis, our Pope,
Whom you have chosen to be her shepherd.
Through Christ, our Lord.

Prayer after Communion
Having been made sharers at the heavenly table,
We humbly entreat you, Lord:
By the power of this mystery,
Strengthen your Church in unity and charity
And, as you have entrusted your servant, Francis, with the office
Of shepherd,
Grant him always salvation and protection,
Together with the flock entrusted to his care.
Through Christ our Lord.