Msgr. Pope on the Role Prayer Played in Driving Down COVID-19 Deaths

"Back in April, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York excluded the possibility that God had anything to do with the dropping numbers of COVID-19 in New York State. . . .

"The Governor, of course, does not consider the possibility that there is an intermediate view: that human decisions may have interacted with or have been aided by God's grace. His protestations seem to show irritation with the notion that God could have anything at all to do with the results or with assisting our actions. 'Nothing' is a strong and absolute word. In using it, he demonstrates the fierce secularism of our age, which seeks to exclude God/faith from any role or participation in public conversations or during times of crisis. This secularism bespeaks more of fear than it does of a rational, principled position. Why the need to exclude other views or to denounce them in such absolute terms?

"While we cannot know for certain whether prayer played any role in the [steady drop in COVID-19 deaths and cases in Italy the day following Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi Eucharistic Blessing], as a man of faith I choose to believe that the Pope, along with all of us who prayed, did contribute.I respect that some will reject this outright, but to those I would like address these questions. . . ."

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the role of prayer in addition to human activities (e.g., staying at home, the shuttering of many businesses, and the cessation of certain activities) in addressing the COVID-19 challenge.

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: What Role Has Prayer Played in Driving Down COVID-19 Deaths? (27 MAY 20)