The Spiritual Life with Fr. James Martin, S.J. Jesuit musician Cristóbal Fones on praying with the Pope
Mar 17, 2026
Cristóbal Fones, SJ — Jesuit priest, musician, and director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. He discusses the morning offering and the Sacred Heart devotion. He explains how the Pope’s prayer intentions are chosen and how prayer includes emotions. He reflects on music shaping prayer, inculturation, Jesuit retreat practices, and why Catholics ask saints to intercede.
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How The Pope's Prayer Network Works
- The Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network updates the 180-year Apostleship of Prayer into a global, synodal movement of 22 million intercessors.
- Cristóbal explains intentions are gathered from hundreds of proposals worldwide, filtered and discerned with the Pope into monthly prayer focuses.
Prayer Changes The Pray-er More Than The World
- Praying for specific intentions cultivates communal awareness and transforms our hearts, even if outcomes remain in God's hands.
- Cristóbal frames monthly intentions (e.g., children with incurable diseases) as calls to sensitivity and possible action, not just petitions.
Sacred Heart Centers On Jesus' Felt Compassion
- The Sacred Heart devotion emphasizes Jesus' human feelings, especially pain from indifference, inviting us to console and share his compassion.
- Cristóbal connects Margaret Mary Alacoque's revelations to a broader Ignatian spirituality of affections and mission.
