During a solemn reflective gathering held in the Vatican Gardens in Rome on Thursday, Dominican President Luis Abinader issued a public call for all Dominican people across the globe to join in prayer for the health and full recovery of Pope Leo XIV. Accompanying the president at the event was First Lady Raquel Arbaje, and the symbolic image of Our Lady of Altagracia, the revered patron saint of the Dominican nation, was also present for the occasion.
After opening the moment of reflection, Abinader invited all attendees gathered in the gardens to recite the Our Father together, centering the prayer on the pontiff’s well-being. He formally asked God to grant strength and support to Pope Leo XIV as he works toward recovery, and took the opportunity to reaffirm a long-held hope: that the Pope will accept his previous invitation and undertake an official visit to the Dominican Republic in 2027.
Beyond prayers for the head of the Catholic Church, Abinader extended his spiritual intercession to Dominican families both residing in his home country and living abroad. He asked God to grant lasting peace and deep unity to every Dominican household, and publicly entrusted his own role and duties as head of the Dominican government to divine guidance. In his remarks, the president specifically sought divine wisdom for the policy decisions he faces, moral and physical fortitude to navigate periods of national hardship, and a spirit of compassion that guides his treatment of the most vulnerable members of Dominican society.
Abinader closed the gathering by offering additional prayers for the global Catholic Church, asking for divine support for the institution’s core mission of spreading its message of faith and salvation to communities around the world.