Orationes pro eligendo Romano Pontifice – Prayers for the Election of a Roman Pontiff (Fr. Z’s and Card. Burke’s)

I was requested to write a prayer – in Latin – for the election of a good Successor of Peter.

Oratio pro eligendo Summo Pontifice

Deus Pater Omnipotens, qui in creationis initio aquas primordiales calmasti, Sancto volitante Spiritu, eundem Spiritum super Ecclesiam Tuam protinus mittere digneris Successorem Sancti Apostoli Petri elegendi caussa, ut tranquillitas, novo Romano Pontifice rite electo, foveatur atque dilatetur.

Deus Domine Iesu, cuius Corpus est Ecclesia a Te Tuum super Apostolum Petrum fundata, Cardinales, quorum eius Successorem eligere est munus, munias angelica protectione necnon multis robores gratiis, quaesumus, ut his in diebus ante et inter Conclavi conventum, dicta eorum et facta fide digno pro Ecclesiae Tuae bono ad pacem et salutem animarum consequantur.

Deus Spiritus Sancte, Paraclite, Trinitatis Divine Afflatus, omnes sedes habitaculaque Cardinalium Electorum perflare digneris, quaesumus supplicantes, ut diabolicas fraudes repellas, disceptationes veritate et caritate informes, vires exstrinsecas contundas, Ecclesiae Tuae denuo claritatem et serenitatem afferas.

Deus Sanctissima Trinitas, in infinita Tua misericordia et secundum providentiam Tuam Tua pro Ecclesia ineffabilem, inspira urge et insusurra, etiam signis supernaturalibus si opus sit, Cardinales in Conclavi ut nobis munerent bonum Papam et sapientem, mitem Pastorem sed fortem, Christi Vicarium fidelem et reverentem, precantem Petri Successorem et prudentem, amantem mores maiorum Romanum Pontificem et serventem, stabilem pium virilem et sanctum, scilicet meliorem quam mereamur. Amen.

Santa Dei Genetrix, intercede pro nobis.
Sancte Petre, intercede pro nobis.
Sante Paule, intercede pro nobis.
Omnes Sancti Papae, intercedite pro nobis.

___

Prayer for the Election of the Roman Pontiff

O God the Father Almighty, who at the beginning of creation calmed the primordial waters by the hovering of the Holy Spirit, deign swiftly to send the same Spirit upon Your Church for the purpose of electing the Successor of the Holy Apostle Peter, so that, the new Roman Pontiff duly elected, tranquility may be fostered and expanded.

O God, Lord Jesus, whose Body is the Church founded by You on the Apostle Peter, grant, we beg You, that you defend with angelic protection and strengthen with many graces the Cardinals whose task it is to elect his Successor, so that in these days before and during the Conclave, their words and deeds, for the true good of Your Church, will result in peace and the salvation of souls.

O God the Holy Spirit, Paraclete, Divine Breath of the Trinity, deign to waft through all the locales and dwellings of the Cardinals-elect, on our knees we beg You, to repel diabolical schemes, to crush external forces, to bring clarity and serenity to Your Church.

O God, Most Holy Trinity, in Your infinite mercy and according to Your ineffable providence for the Church, inspire, guide and gently urge, if necessary even with supernatural signs, the Cardinals in the Conclave to grant us a good and wise Pope, a kindly but strong Shepherd, a faithful and reverent Vicar of Christ, a praying and prudent Successor of Peter, a Roman Pontiff who loves and preserves the customs of our forebears, a steadfast, pious, virile and holy man, namely, one better than we deserve. Amen.

Holy Mother of God, intercede for us.
Saint Peter, intercede for us.
Saint Paul, intercede for us.
All Holy Popes, intercede for us.

___

Here is the beautiful prayer that Card. Burke wrote for the Sacred College of Cardinals for the Novendiales

Oratio Novendialis Pro Sacro Cardinalium Collegio Romae Congregato in Conclavi Ad Romanum Pontificem Eligendum A die XXVI mensis Aprilis usque ad diem V mensis Maii, anno Salutis MMXXV

Ad pedes tuos proiectus, 0 Virgo Dei Mater, Domina Nostra de Guadalupe, te supplico, mater compassiva omnium qui te amant, qui ad te clamant, te quaerunt, omniumque qui in te confidunt. Hoc magnae probationis ac periculi Ecclesiae tempore, pro eadem te obsecro. Sicuti olim in colle Tepeyac, anno millesimo quingentesimo trigesimo primo, Ecclesiae subvenisti, rogo te ut intercedere digneris pro Sacro Cardinalium Collegio Romae congregato ad eligendum Sancti Petri Successorem, Christi Vicarium Ecclesiaeque Vniversalis Pastorem.

Hoc tempore Ecclesiae ac saeculo tumultuoso, Filium tuum divinum supplica, ut Cardinales Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae, Corporis Eius Mystici, Spiritus Sancti inspirationibus humiliter oboediant. Te intercedente, virum qui vel dignissimum ad officium Christi in terris Vicarii eligant. Una tecum, in Eum qui est adiumentum et salus unica nostra, omnino confido. Amen.

Cor Iesu, salus omnium in Te confidentium, miserere nobis!

Domina Nostra de Guadalupe, Virgo Dei Mater et Mater Divinae Gratiae, ora pro nobis!

Raymundus Leo S.RE. Cardinalis BVRKE Die XXIV mensis MMXXV

___

Novena Prayer for the Sacred College of Cardinals gathered for the Conclave to elect the Roman Pontiff April 26-May 5, 2025

I kneel before you, 0 Virgin Mother of God, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the compassionate mother of all who love you, cry to you, seek you, and trust in you. I plead for the Church at a time of great trial and danger for her. As you came to the rescue of the Church at Tepeyac in 1531, please intercede for the Sacred College of Cardinals gathered in Rome to elect the Successor of Saint Peter, Vicar of Christ, Shepherd of the Universal Church.

At this tumultuous time for the Church and for the world, plead with your Divine Son that the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, His Mystical Body, will humbly obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Through your intercession, may they choose the most worthy man to be Christ’s Vicar on earth. With you, I place all my trust in Him Who alone is our help and salvation. Amen.

Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who trust in Thee, have mercy upon us!

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Virgin Mother of God and Mother of Divine Grace, pray for us!

Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE April 24, 2025