For his October prayer intention, Pope Leo XIV entrusts to the Lord those suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental illnesses. He calls on the Church to support these individuals without judgment or exclusion. In a message broadcast on October 1st by the Worldwide Prayer Network of the Pope, the pontiff dedicated his prayer to "mental health pastoral care," a term referring to the Church’s efforts to provide spiritual and emotional support to those struggling with mental health challenges. In his prayer, Leo XIV refers to the "silent wounds" that often go unnoticed and asks for forgiveness "for the times we have turned our gaze away," which he says has contributed to stigma and discrimination against people with mental illnesses. The Pope prays that the Church becomes a "welcoming house," a community that "accompanies and never excludes," "listens without judging," and "draws close without fear." He also entrusts to the Lord those who care for the suffering—professionals, relatives, and volunteers—and asks for them "strength and compassion." This intention comes in the context of a global mental health crisis, with more than one billion people worldwide affected by mental disorders. According to the 2024 Mental Health Atlas by the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven people today lives with a mental disorder. The Worldwide Prayer Network of the Pope notes that global public spending on mental health "still represents only 2% of health budgets," and access to care remains highly unequal across countries. Globally, the average is 13 mental health professionals per 100,000 inhabitants, with significant disparities between high-income and low-income countries. This prayer intention echoes words spoken by Leo XIV during his apostolic journey to France. On September 27, during his meeting with the sick and their companions in Lourdes, the Pope spoke of those who come to entrust Jesus with their "physical, psychological, or spiritual sufferings." He also recalled that, facing certain illnesses and pains, the horizon can sometimes appear "dark, uncertain, without exit," before calling caregivers to "accompany the sick with tenderness." "In healing the bodies, you also heal the souls," the pontiff affirmed. The prayer, which concludes with a traditional Christian benediction, emphasizes the Church's role in offering compassion and support to those struggling with mental health. It asks for the strength to integrate mental health care into the life and mission of communities and the Church itself, becoming a "living sign of Your mercy." The prayer reflects a growing awareness within religious institutions of the importance of addressing mental health as part of spiritual and social care.