2024 - A “Super Election” Year
““Elections are an essential moment in the life of any country, since they allow all citizens responsibly to choose their leaders.”
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An Invitation
More than 2 billion people across 60+ countries will or have already voted in national elections in 2024, the largest global election year in history, during a time of increased polarization, misinformation, armed conflict, and climate crisis.
We invite you to join us in prayer and intention through a six-month process which calls us to make peace a reality by becoming agents of reconciliation and transformation during this election year. Pray the election prayer daily and join in our weekly intentions.
Daily Election Prayer
God of peace, these times demand a change of heart: to be, think, and act differently.
Pour out your Spirit on your people as we prepare to vote in 2024 in unprecedented numbers across the globe.
May we strive to make peace a reality by becoming agents of reconciliation, transforming and transcending polarization, misinformation, and division during this election year.
Help us to recognize the reality of our interconnection and interdependence and to make decisions for the common good. Amen.
Weekly Election Intentions
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“Politics too must make room for a tender love of others. What is tenderness? It is love that draws near and becomes real. A movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears and the hands… Tenderness is the path of choice for the strongest, most courageous men and women.” – Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti
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“We believe that we are all brothers and sisters and that everyone has the right to be treated with human dignity. Earth is a gift of our Creator to be shared by all of Earth's families, not just by those who claim to own a piece of it.” – Congregation Statement, Welcome Immigrants and Refugees
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“We are called to a deeper and wider living of community for mission in company with poor and marginalized people. Our contemplative discernment pushes us, individually and as Congregation, to action; deeper mutual support enables us to take risks for justice, peace, and the integrity of creation.” - Acts of the 22nd Congregation Chapter
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“Because our founder showed particular concern for justice toward women, we commit ourselves to be Involved in ministries and action which affect the contemporary situation of women in the church and in society.” (Constitution 22)
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“One of the great difficulties of dealing with any vexed social question is that recrimination so often takes the place of argument. Until this ceases, it is hopeless to expect an intelligent attention to either side of the question.” – M.F. Cusack, The Present Case of Ireland Plainly Stated
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“Politics is an expression of our compelling need to live as one, in order to build as one the greatest common good: that of a community which sacrifices particular interests in order to share, in justice and peace, its goods, its interests, its social life.” – Pope Francis, 2015 Address to US Congress
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“Earth is a revelation of God and the sustainer of all life. We recognize that the exploitation and destruction of Earth’s air, water, soil, and species is a sacrilege. We are committed to a spirituality of peacemaking which compels us to live in right relationship with the entire community of life.” – Seeds of Peace: Care of Creation and Climate Change, Acts of the 21st Congregation Chapter
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“In recognizing the dignity of all persons, we commit ourselves to education and action that aim to eliminate discrimination in all its forms within the congregation, in those places and institutions where we minister, and in the wider society.” (Constitution 24)
“Yet we find ourselves at a place we’ve never been, at the edge of tomorrow, the dawn of our reCreation. These new times demand a change of heart: to be, think, and act differently. Our spiritual lives require deep re-examination and transformation; our outward actions must confront privilege and power in ourselves and society … It is time to live our words. We embrace these promptings of the Sprit with courage, humility, hope and trust.”
Resources
Pope Francis has shared his prayer intention for August 2024 to pray for political leaders.
Join Catholic Sisters in silent prayer during:
Republican National Convention (July 15-18)
Democratic National Conventions (August 19-22)
US Election (November 4-6)
Visit the LCWR Website to sign up and access the virtual contemplative prayer space
CSJP Resources
UK Resources
Preparing for the Election—Vocation for Justice, Columban Justice, Peace and Ecology Team
The Summer 2024 edition of 'Vocation for Justice' is filled with thought-provoking content as the UK moves towards a General Election.UK General Election 2024: A guide for Catholic Voters, CAFOD
CAFOD and SVP are inviting Catholics to reach out to their local candidates to strengthen community participation and practice the culture of encounter that Pope Francis talks about. This website includes supporter briefings on international aid, human rights, climate change, debt cancellation, food systems, inequality, cost of living, and migration.General Election Website, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland
Resources to help Christians in the UK prepare for the UK General Election. Includes resources from Operation Noah and Let’s End Poverty.General Election 2024, Pax Christi England and Wales
Briefing note produced in collaboration with the Network of Christian Peace Organisations to produce a briefing note.:
US Resources
Equally Sacred Multi-Issue Checklist, NETWORK Lobby
Pope Francis makes it clear: Catholics and all people of good will are called to be multi-issue voters, not single-issue voters, in the 2024 elections and in our continued participation in public life. This resource can support you in educating yourself as a faithful voter on the issues and concerns that are “equally sacred.”
Vote 411, League of Women Voters
Provides reliable, nonpartisan information in both English and Spanish, including candidates guides, voter registration and verification, details
about your unique ballot, and how to vote in your state.
Civilize It—A Better Kind of Politics, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
A response to Pope Francis’ invitation to model a “better kind of politics.” See the Civilize it pledge on the next page.
General Resources
Overcome Division Video, by Stand Together
8 minute video with 5 simple steps from Irshad Manji.Transforming Grace, Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Invites participants to take responsibility for the personal and collective responses we can make in the challenges we will encounter during the election period. Each liturgical season, participants receive a weekly or monthly one-page reflection guide designed to be used in groups such as leadership teams, justice committees, employee groups, and gatherings of sisters and partners in mission. Each reflection tool is designed for a 60-75 minute session.