Pray the Global Novena to Christ the King with Regnum Christi
This year, we celebrate the centenary of the institution of the Feast of Christ the King, established by Pope Pius XI in the encyclical Quas Primas. It reminds us that Jesus Christ is the center and Lord of history, the only one who can bring true peace and justice to the world.
This novena invites us to renew our faith and to recognize Christ as King of our lives, our families, and society, embracing his Kingdom of truth, love, and mercy.
Pray the Novena
Day 9
King of Kings
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
READING
Revelation 17:14
They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful.
REFLECTION
“Love always conquers. Love always conquers, just as Christ has conquered! Love always conquers, even though at times, in the face of specific events and situations, it may seem powerless to us—Christ seemed powerless on the Cross! God is always more powerful!” (Pope St. John Paul II, Message to Young People in Chile, 1987) Jesus Christ, King of kings, the Lamb who won the Kingdom for all on the cross, teaches us that his power is love, his majesty is that of the Beatitudes, and that fidelity to the Gospel is the path to true happiness: the happiness of the pure in heart, the poor in spirit, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, those who mourn, those who work for peace, the merciful, those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Mt 5:11–12)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, King of kings, help us to open ourselves to your grace so that, transformed by your love, we may walk the path of the Beatitudes so that you may reign in our lives, and thus we may collaborate in building a more just, fraternal, and united world, where everyone can experience the joy of your Kingdom.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 1
The Awaited King
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
Luke 1:30-33
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
REFLECTION
Jesus Christ is the awaited King, the promised Messiah. Only in him is true light found, the hope of salvation from a God who reveals his majesty by making himself present in our midst, who shows his face and dwells in those who open their hearts to him. “If we remain in his love, he comes to dwell in us and our life will become a temple of God. His love enlightens us, influences the way we think and act, spreads outwards to others and embraces every situation in our lives.” (Pope Leo XIV, Regina Caeli, May 25, 2025) Just as at the Annunciation, this awaited King continues to need the ‘yes’ of his creatures to establish his eternal Kingdom in hearts and in society.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, give us a pure heart so that we may see your face, recognize you, and welcome your Kingdom into our lives.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 2
Poor and Humble King
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
Matthew 2:1-2
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.”
REFLECTION
n Jesus Christ, we contemplate the mystery of a God who, though rich, became poor to enrich us with his poverty (cf. 2 Cor 8:9). By assuming our humanity, he shares with us his richness—unlimited trust in God the Father—and invites us to share with him his filial and fraternal spirit, to become children in the Son, brothers and sisters in the Firstborn Brother (cf. Rom 8:29). “God is merciful love, and his plan of love, which unfolds and is fulfilled in history, is above all his descent and coming among us to free us from slavery, fear, sin and the power of death. Addressing their human condition with a merciful gaze and a heart full of love, he turned to his creatures and thus took care of their poverty. Precisely in order to share the limitations and fragility of our human nature, he himself became poor and was born in the flesh like us. We came to know him in the smallness of a child laid in a manger and in the extreme humiliation of the cross, where he shared our radical poverty, which is death…. This ‘preference’ never indicates exclusivity or discrimination towards other groups, which would be impossible for God. It is meant to emphasize God’s actions, which are moved by compassion toward the poverty and weakness of all humanity. Wanting to inaugurate a kingdom of justice, fraternity and solidarity, God has a special place in his heart for those who are discriminated against and oppressed, and he asks us, his Church, to make a decisive and radical choice in favor of the weakest.” (Pope Leo XIV, Dilexi Te, 16)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, poor and humble King, help us to recognize our need for you and to discover your face in those who suffer. Make us “poor in spirit” so that, trusting in you, we may be true witnesses of your love for the least and most needy among us.
Christ Our King,
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 3
Meek King
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
John 12:13-15
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel.” Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: “Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass’s colt.”
REFLECTION
With his triumphant yet humble entry into Jerusalem, Jesus Christ teaches us that his Kingdom does not advance through the force of arms or power, but through the meekness of truth that convinces from within. Meekness is not weakness, but an inner strength that overcomes evil without resorting to violence. The majesty of Christ is the meekness of self-giving love, a tender and intimate love that does not impose itself, but rather attracts, transforms, and conquers hearts. “He is King of hearts, too, by reason of his ‘charity which exceedeth all knowledge.’ And his mercy and kindness which draw all men to him, for never has it been known, nor will it ever be, that man be loved so much and so universally as Jesus Christ.” (Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas, 7)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, make our hearts meek and humble like yours, so that, surrendered to your love and clothed with your goodness and gentleness, we may be instruments of your peace in the world and attain the inheritance of your Kingdom.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 4
King of Justice
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
Matthew 25:31-36
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’”
REFLECTION
Christ is the King of justice. His law is charity. His way of governing is total self-giving. The measure of his judgment is love for one’s neighbor. In Christ, justice is lived out as mercy and solidarity, inviting us to recognize and serve him in the most needy. Thus, his majesty is revealed in the power of love that transforms and dignifies every person. “He declares: ‘as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me’ (v. 40). These words never cease to move us, because they reveal the extent to which God’s love goes: up to the point of taking flesh, but not when we are well, when we are healthy and happy, no; but when we are in need. And in this hidden way he allows himself to be encountered; he reaches out his hand to us as a mendicant. In this way Jesus reveals the decisive criterion of his judgment, namely, concrete love for a neighbour in difficulty. And in this way the power of love, the kingship of God is revealed: in solidarity with those who suffer in order to engender everywhere compassion and works of mercy.” (Pope Francis, Angelus, November 26, 2017)
CLOSING PRAYER
Jesus Christ, King of justice, grant that we may hunger and thirst for your justice, so that we may recognize and serve you in the most needy, and thus, filled with your love, build your Kingdom on earth.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 5
King of Eternal Life
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
John 18:36-37
Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants [would] be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.” So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
REFLECTION
The kingship of Christ extends beyond human parameters. “Jesus is King, but his kingdom is not of Pilate’s world, and not of this world either. Jesus’ world, indeed, is the new world, the eternal world, which God prepares for all by giving his life for our salvation. It is the kingdom of heaven, which Christ brings to this earth by pouring out grace and truth (cf. Jn 1:17). The world, of which Jesus is King, redeems creation ruined by evil with the power proper to divine love. Jesus saves creation, because Jesus liberates, Jesus forgives, Jesus brings peace and justice.” (Pope Francis, Angelus, November 24, 2024) The Kingdom of Christ is love. It is a spiritual Kingdom, which is embodied in the world and longs to reign in our hearts to give us eternal life. “Yet this is possible only because it is not a kingship of political power, but is based solely on the free adherence of love—a love which, for its part, is a response to the love of Jesus Christ who gave himself for all.” (Pope Benedict XVI, Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help us to live according to the truth of your Kingdom, which invites us to go beyond human logic and certainties, to be courageous and creative, and to remain in your love so that we may make you present in the world.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 6
Redeeming King
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
Matthew 27:27-29
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
REFLECTION
Christ has the right to reign over all creatures, not only because he is the Son of God, but also because he has redeemed us with his blood (Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas, 12–16). “He embraces our death, our pain, our poverty, our weakness. He embraced all of it. He became a slave so that each of us could become a son. By his becoming a slave, he purchased our sonship. He let himself be insulted and derided, so that whenever we are brought low, we will never feel alone. He let himself be stripped of his garments, so that no one would ever feel stripped of his or her rightful dignity. He ascended the cross, so that God would be present in every crucified man or woman throughout history. This is our king, the king of the universe, for he journeyed to the furthest confines of our human experience, entered into the black hole of hatred, the black hole of abandonment, in order to bring light to every life and to embrace all reality.” (Pope Francis, Homily, November 20, 2022)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, you who embraced our sin to redeem it, make us capable of accompanying and comforting those who suffer, and of feeling true sorrow for our offenses so that, restored by your mercy and forgiveness, we may experience the joy of salvation.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 7
King of Peace
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
John 19:17-19
And carrying the cross himself, he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.”
REFLECTION
On the cross, Jesus Christ is revealed as the King of Peace. He does not reign from a throne of power, but from one of love and mercy, where he reconciles heaven and earth. He is not crowned with the glory of gold, but with the thorns of our sins. The cross is the seat of peace. From there, Jesus Christ teaches us a peace that does not dominate, but rather builds history by transforming hearts. “It is the peace of the risen Christ. A peace that is unarmed and disarming, humble and persevering. A peace that comes from God, the God who loves us all, unconditionally.” (Pope Leo XIV, Urbi et Orbi, May 8, 2025) “Oh, what happiness would be Ours if all men, individuals, families, and nations, would but let themselves be governed by Christ! ‘Then at length,’ to use the words addressed by our predecessor, Pope Leo XIII, twenty-five years ago to the bishops of the Universal Church, ‘then at length will many evils be cured; then will the law regain its former authority; peace with all its blessings be restored. Men will sheathe their swords and lay down their arms when all freely acknowledge and obey the authority of Christ, and every tongue confesses that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.’” (Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas, 20)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help us to recognize your kingship in our lives so that, by finding true peace in you, we may be peacemakers and you may reign in the world.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
Day 8
King of Mercy
V. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
V. The world will surely stand in place, never to be moved. Your throne stands firm from of old;
you are from everlasting.
R. The Lord reigns, robed with majesty.
OPENING PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of the universe and of our hearts, you who came to reconcile all things in yourself and to establish the Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace, we acknowledge you as our only Lord. We want you to reign in our lives, in our families and in society. Grant us to live in fraternal communion, being co-responsible in the mission of making your Kingdom present with joy, dedication and fidelity. May we, following your example of humility and service, work for a more just and fraternal society, where everyone recognizes your Lordship and finds true peace in you.
Amen.
GOSPEL
Luke 23:39-43
Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
REFLECTION
From the throne of the cross, Jesus Christ reveals his majesty as King of Mercy, demonstrating that sin does not have the last word and that “God’s mercy has set a limit to evil.” (Pope St. John Paul II, Memory and Identity) Mercy opens the heart to the hope of being loved forever, regardless of our limitations. “Mercy: the bridge that connects God and man, opening our hearts to the hope of being loved forever despite our sinfulness.” (Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, 2) “It is precisely in the failure of sin—sin is a failure—in the failure of human ambitions: the triumph of the Cross is there, the gratuitousness of love is there. (…) The kingship of Jesus doesn’t oppress us, but rather frees us from our weaknesses and miseries, encouraging us to walk the path of the good, of reconciliation and of forgiveness.” (Pope Francis, Angelus, November 22, 2015)
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help us to open ourselves to the grace of your love, which is always greater than our sin, and give us a merciful heart to make your Kingdom present in this world with gestures of tenderness, understanding, and love.
Christ Our King
Thy Kingdom Come!
