The Universal Prayer, also called the Prayer of the Faithful, that follows the Creed, “embraces the needs of the Church and of the world”. Pope Francis explained this in front of the 10,000 faithful who gathered in a rain-whipped St Peter’s Square today, recalling that “the Fathers of Vatican Council II wanted this prayer to be restored after the Gospel and the homily, especially on Sundays and feasts, so that with the participation of the people, prayers are said for the Holy Church, for those who govern us, for those who find themselves in situations of need, for all men and women, and for the salvation of the whole world”. Under the guidance of the priest who introduces and concludes, “the people, by exercising their baptismal priesthood, offer their prayers to God for the salvation of all”, Pope Francis recalled: “After the individual intentions, proposed by a deacon or a reader, the assembly says with one voice: ‘Hear us, o Lord’”.