Pope Francis shakes hands with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Square for his Wednesday general audience on Nov. 6, 2024, at the Vatican. / Credit: Julia Cassell/CNA

Vatican City, Nov 6, 2024 / 11:15 am (CNA).

Opening his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square with a prayer to Our Lady of the Forsaken (Virgen de los Desamparados), the patroness of Valencia, Spain, Pope Francis asked people to pray for the victims of flash floods in Spain.

“I wished to greet the Virgen de los Desamparados,” the pope told the crowds of pilgrims at the Vatican after placing a white rose before her statue. “Today, in a special way, let us pray for Valencia and for the other areas of Spain that are suffering because of the water,” the Holy Father said.

More than 200 people have been confirmed dead in Valencia since heavy rains hit the eastern province of Spain last week. An additional 90 people were reported missing after severe floods swept through the city, destroying homes and personal property, businesses, roads, and other public infrastructure.

Following his prayer to the Virgin Mary for the people of Spain, the pope continued his catechesis on the Holy Spirit and the Church, focusing on the theme of Christian prayer: “We pray to receive the Holy Spirit, and we receive the Holy Spirit in order to truly pray; that is, as children of God, not as slaves.” 

Asking his listeners to reflect on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, which highlighted the need to learn from the Holy Spirit to “pray as we ought,” the Holy Father emphasized that prayer should not come from a place of fear and punishment but from the freedom and spontaneity of a child who trusts in God.

“Each one of us have little ones — children [who are either] nephews, nieces, or [sons and daughters] of friends — and they always receive good things from us,” he said. “And as [God] the father, will he not give good things to us?”

According to the Holy Father, the only “power” people have with God is prayer, as “he does not resist prayers.” He said it is the Holy Spirit who teaches the Church and each Christian how to pray.

“He testifies to us that we are children of God and puts on our lips the cry ‘Abba, Father!’” the pope said. “It is God who prays within us.”

“True prayer,” according to the Holy Father, is when one allows the Holy Spirit to come to the aid of our weakness and intercede for us “according to God’s will.”

“Jesus says first seek the kingdom of God and all these things will be given you besides,” the pope said. “Instead, we seek something above and beyond — namely our own interests — and we completely forget to ask for the kingdom of God.”

Pray for peace, sustained by faith and hope

Turning his attention to the needs of those suffering around the world, including the sick and elderly, Pope Francis asked his listeners to pray for those in war-torn countries at the conclusion of his Nov. 6 general audience.

“We must not forget martyred Ukraine that suffers so much. We must not forget Palestine and Israel. The other day 153 civilians were killed. It’s very sad. We must not forget Myanmar, and we must not forget Valencia in Spain,” he said.