This morning the Vatican released the Pope's prayer intentions for the month of May. For this coming month, Benedict XVI is praying that Christians become more involved in promoting human dignity in society and that Mary will continue to guide missionaries around the world.

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That Christians may use literature, art and the mass media to greater advantage in order to favor a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person".

His mission intention is: "That the Virgin Mary, Star of evangelization and Queen of the Apostles, may still guide today with maternal affection the missionaries, both men and women, throughout the world, just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church".