Catholics pray for ailing Pope Francis at Sunday mass
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Pilgrims praying for Pope Francis' health during a mass at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York City.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Yan Zhuang and Camille Elemia
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ROME - Roman Catholics worldwide prayed on Feb 23 for Pope Francis, who is hospitalised in critical condition
Pope Francis, 88, was admitted to a hospital in Rome on Feb 14 with an infection that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. He had a long “asthmatic respiratory crisis” on Feb 22 that required “high flows of oxygen” and a blood transfusion, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis has been the spiritual leader of almost 1.4 billion Roman Catholics around the world since 2013. There have been prayers for his recovery worldwide.
At the Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, South Korea, Mr Pat Santos – a tourist from the Philippines – described the Pope as “the symbol of Christianity”.
The Vatican said on the morning of Feb 23 that the Pope had had a restful night, without providing further details about his condition.
“Pneumonia is a serious illness for his age, that’s why we should be worried,” said Mr Santos, 31, who was visiting South Korea with his family. “May he recover very well so that he can enjoy his retirement.”
Pope Francis has suffered damage to his lungs in the past, and in recent days, a few cardinals have openly spoken about the possibility of him resigning, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did in 2013.
Doctors had said on Feb 21 that Pope Francis would remain in the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli hospital in Rome for at least another week. They had said he was in critical condition on Feb 21, too, but the announcement on Feb 22 indicated a more complicated situation.
There were prayers for the Pope during Sunday services in Nairobi, Kenya, as well as in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia; in the Philippines, where almost 80 per cent of the population is Roman Catholic; and in East Timor, which the Pope visited in 2024 and where nearly everyone is Catholic.
Catholics gathering to touch a life-size cardboard cutout of Pope Francis during Sunday mass in Dili, East Timor.
PHOTO: AFP
“Once more, we continue to keep in our prayers Pope Francis. May the Lord continue to extend to him his love, his mercy and his healing,” Father Vicente Gabriel Bautista said during Sunday mass at the Manila Cathedral, which also held a special prayer vigil for Pope Francis on Feb 21.
Ms Aurora Agustin, a candle vendor, said she had been sitting outside the Quiapo Church in Manila, Philippines, and praying since Feb 21.
“I pray for his speedy recovery because he is our leader and is very well-loved,” said Ms Agustin, 54.
Filipino Catholics praying during a Holy Hour held for Pope Francis’ health at the Manila Cathedral in Manila, Philippines.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Madam Neneth Felix, a church volunteer in Paranaque, south of Manila, said she was praying for Pope Francis to have a longer life.
“When I pray for my family at night, I include Pope Francis in my prayers,” said Mdm Felix, 62. “I am touched by his humility – everything about him reflects it.”
Ms Catarina Baros, 16, in Dili, East Timor, said she had just come from mass and had lit a candle before a statue of St Anthony.
“I did not want Papa Francisco to be sick because he came to visit Timor. As a young girl, I was very happy with his presence in Timor last year because he gave blessings.” NYTIMES
