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Thousands Gather Outside The Vatican To Pray For Pope Francis’ Recovery
Thousands of pilgrims flocked to St. Peter’s Square to offer prayers for Pope Francis, who has been in the hospital for over a week.
People in attendance expressed their thanks for his efforts to lead the Catholic Church in new directions, their grief for his suffering, and their hope that he would recover.
The Pope has shown a modest improvement, but his health is still critical due to pneumonia in both lungs.
On a cold, wet night, the faithful fingered rosary beads as Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s No. 2, led prayers for forty-five minutes, praying and hoping that Pope Francis would recover. Earlier in the evening, the Vatican delivered a more positive health bulletin than in recent days, which gave people hope.
Nonetheless, the atmosphere in the imposing area was largely somber, with many of the about 4,000 people present realizing they would be in Rome for Francis’ last days.
As they admired the pontiff’s legacy, large crowds stood by the expansive colonnades or sat on folding chairs covered by umbrellas. Members of his community have gathered to express gratitude for “all that we have learned from him,” according to Roberto Allison, a priest from the Mexican state of Guadalajara.
After the service, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco paused to personally bless a few people, saying that the diversity of the audience—many different languages were spoken—was “a big sign of comfort” for the Catholic Church.
Given his age, fragility, and pre-existing lung ailment, the Argentine pope, who had a portion of one lung removed as a young man, has been in the Gemelli hospital in Rome since February 14. According to medical professionals, his condition is touch-and-go.
But in Monday’s update, they said he had not had any more respiratory crises since Saturday, and the supplemental oxygen he is using continued but with a slightly reduced oxygen flow and concentrations.
A couple of Catholic tourists from Chicago, who arrived holding umbrellas well before the service started, said they prayed for the pope at daily Mass earlier at St Peter’s Basilica and decided to come back.
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Like many, they found it “hard to process” they may be in Rome for Francis’ final days. “No one knows the day and time, but it’s a historic moment nonetheless,” said Edward Burjek. It felt the same for Hatzumi Villanueva of Peru.
She was particularly fond of former pope St John Paul II but said that Francis, as the first Latin American pope, “draws a bit closer”. “We came to pray for the pope, that he may recover soon, for the great mission he’s sharing with his message of peace,” said Ms Villanueva, who praised his empathy for migrants.
Francis’ papacy has also emphasized the defense of the environment and partial openness to LGBTQ+ rights. Outside of the Vatican, Romans, pilgrims, and even non-Catholics said they were offering special prayers for the pope.
“We are all sorry,” said Raniero Mancinelli, who has tailored ceremonial clothing for Francis and the two previous popes in his shop just outside the Vatican’s walls.
We wish the Pope a speedy recovery.
Gentle Reminder: Take care not to assume that your strength is the reason you are standing. The one whom God keeps is the one who is kept.
Chychy Jonas
