Pope Francis prayer card with medal

Pope Francis prayer card with medal

• Catholic prayer card dedicated to Pope Francis.
• 8.5 cm (3.35 in) wide.
• 5.5 cm (2.17 in) high.
• Prayer card with silver-plated metal medal:
  • Front side featuring the Pope’s effigy.
  • Back side with Pope Francis’s papal coat of arms.
• Double-sided printing:
  • Image of Pope Francis greeting the faithful with the façade of Saint Peter’s Basilica in the background.
  • Text of the Pope's first balcony address after his election, printed on the reverse.
• Red background with an image of the Pope and the dome of Saint Peter’s.
• Laminated in plastic for extra durability.

The medal on the prayer card | The papal coat of arms of Pope Francis and its symbolism

Every pope, upon beginning his pontificate, chooses a papal coat of arms. This tradition of the Catholic Church is a way for the new pontiff to reflect his spirituality, devotions, origins, and pastoral priorities.

The coat of arms of Pope Francis features, on a blue background, the emblem of the Society of Jesus: a radiant sun with the letters IHS, symbol of Christ. The IHS is crowned by a cross over the letter "H" and flanked by three black nails—classic Jesuit imagery.

At the bottom of the coat of arms are two personal symbols: a star, representing the Virgin Mary, and a spikenard flower, symbol of Saint Joseph, patron of the Universal Church. Both represent Pope Francis's devotions.

Unlike his predecessors, the Pope adopted the motto "Miserando atque eligendo", a quote from Saint Bede about the calling of Saint Matthew, which means: "He looked upon him with mercy and chose him."

Images on the prayer card | Pope Francis's first greeting from the balcony of Saint Peter’s

Following the election of a new pope, Vatican protocol outlines a series of steps before his public appearance. Once the election is accepted, the new Pope enters the Room of Tears, where he dresses in the white cassock and has a brief moment for private prayer. Then, the cardinal protodeacon announces the election to the world with the traditional "Habemus Papam."

On March 13, 2013, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran announced the election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio as the new Pope, who chose the name Francis. About an hour after the white smoke, Pope Francis appeared on the central balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica and, in a humble gesture, asked the faithful to pray for him before giving his Urbi et Orbi blessing.

His initial greeting, which appears on the back of the card, was:

Brothers and sisters, good evening.
You know that the duty of the conclave was to provide a bishop for Rome. It seems that my brother cardinals went to the ends of the earth to find him... but here we are.
I thank you for your welcome.
The diocesan community of Rome has its bishop.
Thank you.
And first of all, I would like to pray for our emeritus bishop, Benedict XVI.
Let us all pray together for him, that the Lord may bless him and the Virgin protect him.
And now let us begin this journey: bishop and people. This journey of the Church of Rome, which presides in charity over all the Churches—a journey of fraternity, love, and trust among us.
Let us always pray for each other.
Let us pray for the whole world, that there may be a great sense of fraternity.

Brief biography of Pope Francis

Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the eldest of five children in a family of Italian immigrants. He studied chemistry before discerning his Catholic vocation. Furthermore, he entered the Society of Jesus in 1958, was ordained a priest in 1969, and continued his theological formation in Argentina and Germany.

He served as provincial of the Jesuits in Argentina (1973–1979), auxiliary bishop of Buenos Aires (1992), archbishop (1998), and cardinal (2001), appointed by John Paul II. Known for his humility, he lived in a modest apartment and used public transportation. He was elected Pope on March 13, 2013, and chose the name Francis.

Despite health challenges, he continued his pontificate until his passing on April 21, 2025.

The meaning and tradition of Catholic prayer cards

Catholic prayer cards are a vital part of popular Catholic devotion. These small images, like the Pope Francis prayer card, are used for personal prayer, as reminders of faith, or as devotional gifts.

This tradition is deeply rooted in the history of the Church and strengthens the believer’s connection with sacred figures. In the case of Pope Francis, prayer cards allow the faithful to express their love for the successor of Peter.