Vatican City: Pope Leo XIV has dedicated his October 2026 prayer intention to mental health ministry, calling on the Catholic Church to become a welcoming and safe place for people facing mental health challenges.
In his monthly prayer video, the Pope asks the Church to listen to people without judging them and to accompany those who suffer without excluding them. He says people living with anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses should find dignity, hope and acceptance within the Church.
The prayer video, produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, shows Pope Leo holding an image of Saint Dymphna, who is recognised as the patroness of people suffering from mental disorders and of mental health professionals.
Addressing God as the “God of life”, Pope Leo refers to the deep and often unseen suffering experienced by many people. He remembers those who struggle with mental health difficulties in silence and asks the Church to recognise their pain.
The Pope also asks forgiveness for times when Christians have ignored people with mental illnesses or contributed to stigma and discrimination against them.
He prays that the Church may become a community where everyone has a place, where people are accompanied rather than excluded, and where those experiencing mental health difficulties can speak and be heard without fear of judgement.
Pope Leo also places before God those who care for people facing mental health challenges. He specifically remembers professionals, family members and volunteers, asking that they receive strength and compassion in their work.
He further calls for mental health care to become part of the life and ministry of Catholic communities and the wider Church. His prayer asks that the Church may show a mercy that does not abandon people and helps restore their sense of dignity and hope.
More than one billion people worldwide live with a mental disorder, according to the information accompanying the Pope’s prayer intention. At the same time, public spending on mental health represents only about two percent of health budgets.
Fr. Cristóbal Fones, International Director of the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, says many people experiencing mental illness have found it difficult to speak about their struggles because of judgement and misunderstanding.
The October prayer intention therefore encourages Catholics to recognise mental health as a reality that needs greater attention and compassionate accompaniment. It also invites the Church to pray throughout the month for people living with mental health difficulties and for those who support them.
Catholic mental health ministries, universities, parishes and support groups are already involved in accompanying people with mental health difficulties and their families. The Pope’s intention calls for this care to be further integrated into the life of Church communities.