Pope Francis has encouraged Christians to engage in heartfelt prayer rather than just repeating words. In his general audience, the Catholic leader advised people to avoid prayer that resembles rote repetition, comparing it to the way parrots mimic sounds.
He urged Christians to let their prayers come from within, asking the Holy Spirit to guide their conversation with God. “Don’t pray like parrots, please! Don’t just say ‘blah, blah, blah’. Instead, call out to the Lord with sincerity – ‘Help me, Lord,’ ‘I love you, Lord.’ When you pray the ‘Our Father,’ say it genuinely: ‘Father, you are my Father.’ Pray with your heart, not just your lips,” the Pope said.