Pope Leo’s November prayer intention emphasizes ‘the proper use of wealth’

Pope Leo XIV’s prayer intention for November is for proper use of wealth, asking forgiveness of misuse of wealth and reminding that true wealth is found not in what is kept but in what is given in love. 

“What is wealth to you?” Pope Leo asked in the video message for the month’s intention. “Millions in a bank account? A huge house and a shiny new car? Or, perhaps, a place in life where you have enough to share with others, where you gather in order to build, and multiply in order to do greater good?” 

“This month, I pray that however great your wealth may be, it will be your instrument for doing good, for reconciliation and fraternity,” Pope Leo said.

The full video of Pope Leo praying the month’s intention prayer is produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, which was launched in 2016 and promotes the monthly intentions of the Holy Father in more than 20 languages. 

“Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service [of] the common good and solidarity of those who have less,” this month’s intention reads. 

On Nov. 3 the Holy See Press Office published the full text of the prayer in English: 

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Lord of life, all we have comes from You: the fertile land, the talents we’ve received, the effort of those who came before us. Nothing is ours alone — everything is a shared gift. But so often, Lord, we let the wealth we seek or attain harden our hearts, lock us in selfishness, and make us forget the most vulnerable. Forgive us for storing up instead of sharing, for using goods as power rather than as service.

You remind us that true wealth is not found in what we keep, but in what we give with love. A heart detached from possessions transforms the world: it opens paths of justice, tears down walls of indifference, and sows hope among the poor. We ask you, Lord, that your Spirit teach us to use what we have — money, time, talents, opportunities — as instruments of fraternity.

May each economic, family, or community decision spring from a free heart, able to recognize that every good is meant for all, and that only by sharing we build the future. Make us witnesses of a wealth transformed into service and mercy, so that our lives, united to the lives of others, may be a sign of your Kingdom of justice and peace. Amen.

The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network also published a reflection on the intention that highlights the story in the Gospel when Jesus meets the rich young man. The reflection, penned by Tom Corcoran, co-author of Jesus, the Rich Young Man and the Meaning of Life, relates that the man asked Christ what he must do to have eternal life. 

Jesus, looking at him with love, tells him to sell what he has and give to the poor, and follow Him. 

“Jesus looks on him with love. He offers a huge challenge, but it does not come from a place of envy or contempt. Out of love he tells him to give his possessions to the poor so he can gain eternal life,” Corcoran wrote. “Jesus challenges us to use our wealth and resources for greater good because he loves us and is for us. We share our resources with the poor, with Catholic ministries, and with our parish out of a response to God’s love and goodness to us.”

Jesus also tells the young man that in giving what he has, he “will have treasure in heaven.” 

This selfless giving, Corcoran wrote, “is a paradox of the kingdom: in giving we receive.”