VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis devoted his Oct. 28 homily to the fact that Jesus prayed for his apostles and the people he encountered on earth, and he continues to intercede for us in heaven.

When we pray to Jesus, the Pope said, Jesus shows his Father in heaven the wounds on his hands, feet and his side, the price of our salvation, which “is as if he is saying: Father, may this not be lost.”

The Holy Father directed his homily to those gathered in the St. Martha guest house of the Vatican.

At the beginning of his reflections, Pope Francis spoke of the day’s Gospel reading, taken from Luke, in which Jesus prayed for the whole night before he chose the Twelve Apostles, pointing out that Jesus continues to pray for us even today.

In praying to God to choose his apostles, the Pope said that Jesus was “arranging his team,” noting that, afterwards, many people came to him in order “to listen to him and to be healed,” because they recognized his ability to heal.

The Holy Father then reflected on three relationships that Jesus had, which were “Jesus and the Father, Jesus and his apostles, Jesus and the people.” He said that “Jesus prayed to the Father for the apostles and for the people” and that he is still praying for the Church.

Jesus, added the Pope, saved us with his prayers, with his sacrifice on the cross and with his life.

“We often say to each other: 'Pray for me. I need prayers. I have so many problems,'” said the Pope, “but this is good, eh? Because we brothers must pray for each other.”

Pope Francis concluded his homily by saying that Jesus prays for each one of us personally and that he does so with courage, showing his Father the cost of our salvation — his wounds.

When we think about this, said the Pope, we must thank God for giving us a brother who prays and intercedes for us, saying, “Lord, you have saved me. And now pray for me.”

He said, “It is to him we must entrust our problems, our life and many other things, so that he may take them to the Father.”