In his prayer intention for the month of July 2018, Pope Francis said: “Let us pray together that priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.”

It has become the custom of Pope Francis to release a video message detailing his prayer intention for each month.

The full text of his intention is below:

The tiredness of priests… Do you know how often I think about it?

Priests, with their virtues and defects, work in many different areas.

Working on so many active fronts, they cannot remain inactive after a disappointment.

At such times, it’s good for them to remember that the people love their priests, need them, and trust in them.

Let us pray together that priests, who experience fatigue and loneliness in their pastoral work, may find help and comfort in their intimacy with the Lord and in their friendship with their brother priests.