Pope Francis has signed the definitive statutes of the Vatican foundation "Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network," the Holy See announced on July 8, 2024. Among the new aspects, the Jesuit-run organization has been given a second international vice-director, who will be a layman, according to the network's director, Fr. Frédéric Fornos.
Founded 180 years ago, it now involves millions of people
Founded in 1844 as the Apostleship of Prayer, the network involves over 22 million Catholics in 92 countries. Each month, in 23 languages, it promulgates a video produced with the pope, presenting his monthly prayer intention, which the faithful are invited to join.
The organization also has a youth branch — the Eucharistic Youth Movement (EYM) — which includes 1.7 million young people in 56 countries.
In 2018, the Argentine pontiff instituted the network as a "pontifical work," broadening the ways in which Catholics can participate. Then, in 2020, he made it a "Vatican Foundation," headquartered inside Vatican City. Four years later, the Pope approved the definitive version of the statutes, which until then had been ad experimentum (provisionally approved for a trial period).
Improvements based on experience
These years of experience helped refine the statutes. The new 18-article text now stipulates that members of the board of directors and the executive committee are appointed for 5-year terms, rather than just three years, to ensure the long-term future of the mission.
Another reform: the board of directors has been enlarged to include two vice-directors. The current Jesuit vice-director, Fr. Cristobal Fones, will be joined by a lay person to be appointed shortly, the foundation's international director, Fr. Frédéric Fornos, told I.MEDIA.
A strengthening of the leadership was necessary because "the work has grown a lot in recent years," explains the man who has been at the helm since 2016.
The addition of a lay member to the management team reflects the appointment, in recent years, of many lay directors and coordinators at the national team level, the Jesuit adds.
Finally, the new statutes clarify the administration of assets, stipulating that national teams have financial autonomy and legal responsibility. For its part, the international office at the Vatican only manages international projects linked to the Holy See.
You can watch each month's video here.
