Pope Leo invites us this month to pray that by finding new ways to proclaim the Gospel in large cities, which are often marked by anonymity and loneliness, we may discover creative ways to build community.

Today, almost 45% of the world’s population lives in urban areas.

In this prayer, Pope Leo XIV asks the “Good Shepherd” who “walks through our streets and squares,” to “enter tall buildings and humble neighborhoods,” and to “silently accompany millions” of people who “seek meaning amid noise and haste.”

Pope Leo adds: “Make us a Church that goes forth, able to reach out to the peripheries, to console those who are lonely, and to sow fraternity and connection instead of giving in to indifference.”