The Catholic Church commemorated its annual World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests on Friday, June 16; the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said in a release.

The day—a time when priests engage in introspection about their vocations while the faithful join in prayer to support and uplift them—coincides with the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

“It’s not easy to carry out priestly ministry in the midst of the challenges presented by the world,” Bishop Earl Boyea of the Diocese of Lansing; chairman of the USCCB’s Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations; recently told Catholic Tribune - Michigan. “I am grateful for the steadfast faith and holy witness of many priests who daily pick up their cross in service to Christ and the salvation of the world. The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests is a day when we can pray in a special way for our priests, so they may be faithful stewards and strengthened in their service to the Gospel.”

The annual World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests was established by St. John Paul II in 1995, according to a report from Vatican News. The shared celebration of the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus traces its roots back to 1672 when it was first celebrated in France. Later, in 1856, Pope Pius IX made it obligatory for the entire Church to observe the celebration.

The dual celebration day falls 19 days after Pentecost. To mark the day, Catholics engage in prayer, particularly reciting the Litany of the Sacred Heart, with the intention of purifying their spirits from sin.

"Let’s pray this week for deeper conversion and greater respect for religious beliefs and shared civic values," Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez said in a June 12 Twitter post. "And especially on Friday, let us ask the Lord to forgive the blasphemies that we see in our society and culture.”

In Vatican City, Pope Francis addressed the importance of the day.

"Dear brothers, I leave you with these thoughts that come from my heart, and I conclude with two simple and important words: Thank you," the pontiff told priests during April’s Holy Chrism Mass. "Thank you for your witness and for your service. Thank you for the hidden good you do, and for the forgiveness and consolation that you bestow in God’s name. Always forgive, please, do not withhold forgiveness. Thank you for your ministry, which is often carried out with great effort, with little recognition and is not always understood.”

U.S. Catholic leaders reminded followers that the observance should not be just a one-day event.

“Catholic Christians traditionally recognize June as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus," Gomez and his colleagues said in a June 12 joint USCCB statement. "During this time, we call to mind Christ’s love for us, which is visible in a special way in the image of His pierced heart, and we pray that our own hearts might be conformed to His, calling us to love and respect all His people.”