In this unique collection, the timeless teachings from twelve modern popes are gathered into one powerful prayer book. Praying with the Popes invites you to journey through a century and a half of papal wisdom—from Leo XIII to Leo XIV—and discover a unified witness to hope, justice, and peace, offering a window into the heart of the Vatican and the soul of the Church.
Catholic speaker and author Katie McGrady writes in the introduction “As you pray with our popes from Leo XIII to Leo XIV, may you discover anew the hope and peace of Christ, which compels us all to engage the social ills of our day and move forward in making the world a better place for all people now—and for generations to come.”
Praying with the Popes: Words of Hope and Peace from Leo XIII to Leo XIV gathers powerful quotes from the writings of these successors of Peter. Their words are offered as a source of reflection and prayer—inviting readers to grow in hope, to deepen their understanding of the Church’s vision of peace, and to foster a Christ-centered love that moves us to daily action on behalf of justice.
At once a spiritual, theological, and doctrinal introduction to Catholic social teaching, Praying with the Popes also serves as a practical guide for living it out in our world today. When Robert Francis Prevost, the first American pope, was elected to the papacy in May 2025 and took the name Leo XIV, many recognized in his choice a clear alignment with the legacy of Leo XIII, the final pope of the nineteenth century. The twelve popes from Leo XIII to Leo XIV guided the Church through tremendous economic, political, and social upheaval. In doing so, they consistently encouraged the faithful to engage more deeply with the Church’s social teachings—teachings that equip believers to live out Christ’s commandment to love as he loves and to help bring about God’s kingdom of peace on earth.
Each chapter begins with a short profile of the featured pope, followed by six brief excerpts from his writings. Quotes are paired with prompts for personal reflection, prayer, and sometimes concrete actions that embody the message of justice and love.
The popes featured in this book served the Church from 1878 to 2025:
- Leo XIII
- Pius X
- Benedict XV
- Pius XI
- Pius XII
- John XXIII
- Paul VI
- John Paul I
- John Paul II
- Benedict XVI
- Francis
- Leo XIV
Before they were bishops of Rome, the popes of the Catholic Church were first sons of God and men of prayer. Each was uniquely gifted in mind and heart and, through those graces, led the Church—and each soul within it—closer to Christ. Let their voices guide you into deeper prayer and greater commitment to the Gospel call to champion justice, peace, and the dignity of every human person.
| Format: | Mass Paperback |
|---|---|
| Product code: | AM2732765961261782826 |
| Dimensions: | 5" x 7" |
| Length: | 192 pages |
| Publisher: |
Ave Maria Press
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| 1-4 copies | $2.84 each |
|---|---|
| 5-9 copies | $2.69 each |
| 10-19 copies | $2.54 each |
| 20-49 copies | $2.39 each |
| 50-99 copies | $2.33 each |
| 100+ copies | $2.24 each |
Praise
“Praying with the Popes is great! It will help you meet our most recent Holy Fathers, learn about their lives, and engage with their ideas about how to care for others and create a more just and peaceful world. This book will help you pray, reflect, and study. And you will love the Church all the more because of it.”
“Reading this book is like walking through the Vatican Gardens arm in arm with the popes, learning something of each one’s personal story and papal pronouncements as you go. It effortlessly leads you through the paths of history of the Catholic Church during the last 147 years. A book that manages to both strengthen the intellect and sweeten the soul!”
“I spend much of my time chasing news, so it was refreshing to pause and pray with the words of these popes. A resource that offers much fruit for spiritual reflection on the Church’s last almost 150 years as we enter into a new papacy.”
“Praying with the Popes helps you listen to our Holy Fathers over the last century and a half and get to know them. From the wisdom of Leo XIII to that of Leo XIV, through reflection and prayer, you can make the Church’s social teaching your own.”
“Praying with the Popes is a remarkable companion for everyone seeking to deepen their prayer lives and their understanding of Catholic social teaching. By weaving together the voices of twelve popes, it offers timeless wisdom and practical reflections that inspire hope, peace, and faithful action today.”
“This book offers a great way not only to learn about Catholic social teaching but also to truly understand how integral it is to our faith and how consistently it has been taught for so long. I quite enjoyed learning new things about our popes at the same time as I was being challenged to put into practice the ideals they have invited us to live out.”
This book is a practical spiritual guide at an urgent time. As Catholics, we cannot afford to be cynical about politics and culture but instead must use Catholic social teaching to promote the healthiest kinds of civic engagement. As not just informed but inspired citizens, we can be instruments leading the way to heaven, the campaign that matters for eternity. Catholic social teaching is not about political platforms, but rather it is a tremendous gift of the Church to the world. Praying with the Popes introduces us to this beautiful body of doctrine and the popes who have formulated it. It helps us pray with these popes and begin to make Catholic social teaching the air we breathe intellectually, practically, and spiritually.
