As we continue to mourn Pope Francis as a Church and prepare for the election of his successor, here are some activities to help kids pray and learn before, during, and after the Conclave!
Before the Conclave:
- Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis
- Learn more about the life and legacy of Pope Francis
- Prepare and learn what to expect during the conclave
- Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Activities: (click on images or links below to access each activity/post)
Pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis:
Read my book We Have a Pope.
We Have a Pope is a picture book that shares with kids the legacy of the Papacy beginning with St. Peter, the central role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Church, and step-by-step of what happens during a Conclave. It's the perfect resource for this time!
You can learn more about it, see some inside views, and read reviews in this post:
How does the Pope guide the Church? Read more about the Barque of St. Peter with this coloring & info page: (Art by Kortnee Senn)
During the Conclave:
- Pray for the election of the new Pope and guidance of the Holy Spirit
- Learn about the process of a Papal Election
- Pray for all Cardinals during the Conclave
- Learn more about the history of the papacy and the popes of the past 2000 years
- Read about the papacy in the Bible
Activities:
We believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding the Church and leads the Papal Conclave. The Cardinals will invoke the Holy Spirit throughout the process, and we can pray along with them!
Click here for a Prayer to the Holy Spirit prayer card (2 per page) (Art by Kortnee Senn)
(Art by Kortnee Senn)
Display this "Come Holy Spirit" art print as a reminder to pray for the conclave:
Try this "Any News?" Activity Page, matching some of the languages spoken by people waiting to hear the news of the new Pope:
(Art by Kortnee Senn)
Who are the Swiss Guard, and what do they do? Click here for these coloring and info pages:
After the Conclave:
- Celebrate the election of our new Pope!
- Learn about the new Pope, his history, and his new coat of arms
- Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit over the Church and the new Pope's leadership
Activities:
You'll be seeing the Papal Insignia and Vatican City Flag everywhere- what do the symbols on this image mean? Learn more from this info page and then color one yourself to decorate with:
(Art by Kortnee Senn)
Make a Papal Miter (video & directions) You can make small ones like this, or use wrapping/butcher paper and create one big enough to wear on your head!
Make a Habemus Papam mini poster or hang up these Papal banners:
Print, color, and frequently pray this kid friendly Prayer for the Pope:
(Art by Kortnee Senn)
(Art by Kortnee Senn)
Click here for resources for Pope Leo XIV:
If you still need a copy of We Have a Pope, you can order it at the following links. Depending on when you are reading this, we are out of stock in some places, but more copies are on their way! Books will be shipping out asap.
Katie, you are amazing! I've been looking for resources to teach my youth group about conclaves, and you got this ready to go just in time! I love your site so much it's bookmarked on my work computer! :)
ReplyDeleteBIG THANK YOU FOR THIS AMAZING BOOK!! It really helped set the stage for my kids, and also our parish kids in our PRE program.
ReplyDeleteOur story:
Habemus Papam!
We have a Pope!
Yesterday, I was very grateful that we discerned homeschooling for each child.
The stage was set—
We read the AMAZING book by Katharine Bogner, “We Have a Pope” several times.
(It is a simple book, with beautiful images, that explains how a new pope is elected! Note: My wonderful catechists read it to each of their classes the weekend after Pope Francis so our parish children could also benefit from this book!)
We had been praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis as well as the cardinals who would participate in the conclave.
Yesterday, for the first time, I had the silent “chimney cam” up while I was doing math and phonics with tbr little girls.
Lucy was watching and telling her older siblings that “white smoke means we have a pope and black smoke means we are still waiting.”
Then, the birds came. I think Lucy became more interested in bird watching (in fact, I texted my husband and mom that Lucy was more interested in the birds at 11:05.) She said the birds were asking, “Is there any news”? (A line from the book—the whole world was waiting!
….two minutes later…there was SMOKE!
Lucy wanted to verify it was white smoke. Once she did, she ran around telling all of her siblings that, “WE HAVE A POPE!”
We gathered and waited….
All math was abandoned 🤪.
We streamed EWTN live.
We took guesses on which continent he would be from and what name he would take. (The only two requirements for a pope is that he is a male who is baptized Catholic, although he typically is one of the cardinals.)
We still had antsy people.
Rose cut out and strung a sign to celebrate!
Lucy colored!
Big kids texted friends and family!
The new pope was praying and in the room of tears, preparing to greet the whole world!
We heard a discussion about Latin-the big kids cheered! Everyone was tuned into Latin! The new pope’s name would be announced in Latin (plus some stuff about declinations 😉 ) Latin was relavent yesterday! So we’re Roman numerals.
Finally…a rustle at the balcony.
The new pope was announced!
An American! (No one guesses that hemisphere!)
He offered words and then his first blessing to the whole world.
Pope Leo XIV!
We give thanks for the gift of a new pope. The Chair of St. Peter is no longer empty.
We pray for Pope Leo XIV as he carries out being the servant of the servants of God through the Petrine ministry.
I love that he called us be missionaries of the Gospel in his opening speech.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
BIG THANK YOU for your amazing book and resources! They were a blessing for our family and our parish kids in the PRE program.
ReplyDeleteHabemus Papam!
We have a Pope!
Yesterday, I was very grateful that we discerned homeschooling for each child.
The stage was set—
We read the AMAZING book by Katharine Bogner, “We Have a Pope” several times.
(It is a simple book, with beautiful images, that explains how a new pope is elected! Note: My wonderful catechists read it to each of their classes the weekend after Pope Francis so our parish children could also benefit from this book!)
We had been praying for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis as well as the cardinals who would participate in the conclave.
Yesterday, for the first time, I had the silent “chimney cam” up while I was doing math and phonics with tbr little girls.
Lucy was watching and telling her older siblings that “white smoke means we have a pope and black smoke means we are still waiting.”
Then, the birds came. I think Lucy became more interested in bird watching (in fact, I texted my husband and mom that Lucy was more interested in the birds at 11:05.) She said the birds were asking, “Is there any news”? (A line from the book—the whole world was waiting!
….two minutes later…there was SMOKE!
Lucy wanted to verify it was white smoke. Once she did, she ran around telling all of her siblings that, “WE HAVE A POPE!”
We gathered and waited….
All math was abandoned 🤪.
We streamed EWTN live.
We took guesses on which continent he would be from and what name he would take. (The only two requirements for a pope is that he is a male who is baptized Catholic, although he typically is one of the cardinals.)
We still had antsy people.
Rose cut out and strung a sign to celebrate!
Lucy colored!
Big kids texted friends and family!
The new pope was praying and in the room of tears, preparing to greet the whole world!
We heard a discussion about Latin-the big kids cheered! Everyone was tuned into Latin! The new pope’s name would be announced in Latin (plus some stuff about declinations 😉 ) Latin was relavent yesterday! So we’re Roman numerals.
Finally…a rustle at the balcony.
The new pope was announced!
An American! (No one guesses that hemisphere!)
He offered words and then his first blessing to the whole world.
Pope Leo XIV!
We give thanks for the gift of a new pope. The Chair of St. Peter is no longer empty.
We pray for Pope Leo XIV as he carries out being the servant of the servants of God through the Petrine ministry.
I love that he called us be missionaries of the Gospel in his opening speech.
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)