Hoax – Motivational message entitled “Prayer of Happiness”, with advice like “don’t cry for what you lost, fight for what you have”, is said to have been written by Pope Francis.
Analysis
After the death of Pope Francis, several texts attributed to him began circulating again on social media and messaging apps. This type of practice is common when public figures pass away: phrases and reflections allegedly written by them gain popularity, especially when the content is inspiring or reflective.
That’s the case with a message titled “Prayer of Happiness.” The text offers advice such as “don’t cry for what you lost, fight for what you have” and talks about overcoming losses, valuing the present, and seeking happiness. The message has been widely shared with Pope Francis’s signature. Here’s the full text:
PRAYER OF HAPPINESS (Pope Francis). Don’t cry for what you lost, fight for what you have. Don’t cry for what is dead, fight for what was born in you. Don’t cry for who abandoned you, fight for who is by your side. Don’t cry for those who hate you, fight for those who want you happy. Don’t cry for your past, fight for your present. Don’t cry for your suffering, fight for your happiness. It’s not easy to be happy, we have to give up many things, make choices and have the courage to accept the burdens and rewards of being happy. Over time we learn that nothing is impossible to solve. Just move on with those who want to be with you. Those who think wealth and status attract envy are mistaken… people actually envy your easy smile, your inner light, your simple and sincere happiness, and your inner peace… Prayer attributed to Pope Francis. Rest in peace.
Fact-check
The message titled “Prayer of Happiness” has stirred emotion on social networks, and many users believe that Pope Francis is the author (which is not true). To clarify the matter, we’ll answer three questions: 1) Did Pope Francis write the so-called “Prayer of Happiness”? 2) Are there other cases of texts falsely attributed to Pope Francis? 3) Does the “Prayer of Happiness” make sense and is it religious?
Did Pope Francis write the so-called “Prayer of Happiness”?
No. There is no official record or Vatican document that presents this text as being authored by Pope Francis. The content was never published in official media related to the pontiff, nor mentioned in public speeches. It’s another motivational message that freely circulates online and gained an undeserved signature to lend credibility and reach.
Are there other cases of texts falsely attributed to Pope Francis?
Yes, dozens of motivational texts, messages about faith, or existential reflections have been falsely attributed to Pope Francis. In most cases, these texts are not even religious in nature and were already circulating online with unknown authorship before being linked to the pontiff. This phenomenon has occurred in several other instances, such as a message supposedly from Easter 2025 and another about life passing quickly, both previously debunked. Another example is the hospital definition text, also debunked by Boatos.org.
Does the “Prayer of Happiness” make sense and is it religious?
Although the text carries a message of personal motivation and overcoming, it does not have the language or structure typical of a Christian or Catholic prayer. It contains no biblical references, does not invoke divine figures or saints, and lacks liturgical elements. It’s a self-help message with emotionally impactful phrases, but with no theological or doctrinal content. Therefore, in addition to being unauthentic, it diverges from the tradition of official prayers of the Catholic Church. Its generic form makes it easily shareable with various signatures, as has occurred before.
Conclusion
The text titled “Prayer of Happiness” was not written by Pope Francis. It is a generic self-help message, with no official record in the Vatican, and was already circulating with other attributions. Similar cases have been debunked several times, showing a common trend of using famous names to spread inspiring phrases.
Fake news ❌
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