VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The morning after Pope Francis’ doctors said that he remained in “critical” condition and showed initial signs of renal insufficiency, the Vatican press office said the pope was in “good spirits” and continuing his treatment.
The press office also announced that Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, would lead a public recitation of the rosary at 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. Peter’s Square.
“Starting this evening, the Cardinals residing in Rome, along with all collaborators of the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome, responding to the sentiments of the people of God, will gather in St. Peter’s Square at 9:00 PM to recite the Holy Rosary for the health of the Holy Father,” the statement said.
The prayer is a moment “to show the closeness of the church to the pope and all who are sick,” said Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office.
Pope Francis, who celebrated his 88th birthday in December, has been an inpatient at Rome’s Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14; his doctors diagnosed double pneumonia.
The Vatican’s morning update on the pope’s condition Feb. 24 was as brief as all the morning statements have been; it said, “The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting.”
The Vatican press office said the pope is in “good spirits,” is continuing his treatment and is not in pain. The pope can and still does get out of bed.
Since the pope’s hospitalization on Feb. 14, prayers for the Holy Father have been pouring in from around the world.
In the United States, bishops are calling on the faithful to pray for Pope Francis. In a Feb. 22 statement, Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia said: “I call for everyone throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to join in prayer for Pope Francis as he continues to battle serious illness. Let us keep the Holy Father close to our hearts and ask God to strengthen him.”
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago—who had invited prayers for the pope’s “prompt healing” in a Feb. 18 post on X—released a Feb. 22 statement, saying, “We have received word that the Pope’s condition worsened this morning. Please continue your prayers for his recovery and for the health care professionals working to lead him through this setback. We ask our Merciful Lord to restore Pope Francis to good health and to keep him free from pain as he receives treatment.”
In the pope’s native Argentina, Catholics flocked to the Metropolitan Cathedral in Buenos Aires, the diocese then-Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio led before his 2013 election, and other parishes to pray for the pontiff’s health.
In a letter sent to Pope Francis Feb. 17, on behalf of the archdiocese’s Catholics, Archbishop Jorge García Cuerva prayed for his recovery “so that strengthened, you can continue to serve the church throughout the world in the exercise of the ministry that God himself has entrusted to you and that you carry out with such love and dedication.”
Archbishop Cuerva said that while the pope continues his recovery at Gemelli, prayers for the pope’s health and intentions would be said “in all the celebrations of the Eucharist during these days.”
“We entrust you to the Blessed Virgin, in the indelible memory of the days when you were the bishop of the flock that lives in this city,” he wrote.
Catholics in Argentina’s Villa 31, a slum Pope Francis would often visit to celebrate Mass when he led the archdiocese, also joined in prayer for their former bishop. Speaking with the Associated Press, Claudia Doldan, a resident of the slum, said she was saddened because of his “delicate health.”
“I know the pope. In that time, Bergoglio would wash the feet (of people) here in the neighborhood. The whole neighborhood is united in prayer; the pope is in our prayers.”
Catholics in Asia, including China, have rallied to pray for the pope. Catholic news site xinde.org in mainland China urged readers to “pray for the pope through the Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and other devotions.”
“Let us also accompany the pope by observing fasting and penance, praying that the Lord may assist and bless him with a swift recovery,” the site read.
While the fragile ceasefire in Gaza continues, Catholics in the region joined in prayer for the pope’s health. In a video posted by DRM News, an online news outlet, an unnamed Palestinian in Gaza expressed gratitude to the pope who “communicated with us amid the war and the conflicts that Gaza has endured.”
“And now, from his sickbed, from his hospital bed, he continues to reach out to check on his children in Gaza,” he said. “This gives us reassurance and confidence that we are well, that we are in his thoughts. We pray for him and wish him a full recovery.”
Despite the seriousness of his condition, which has forced him to cancel all events and meetings, the pope did not want to miss his daily call with Father Gabriel Romanelli, pastor of Holy Family Church in Gaza.
In an interview with Vatican News published Feb. 17, Father Romanelli said Pope Francis called “during the first two days of his hospitalization.”
“He asked how we were, how the situation was, and he sent us his blessing. People expressed their closeness to him; he thanked them and gave his blessing.”
“We heard his voice. It’s true, he is more tired,” the parish priest continued. “He himself said: ‘I need to take care of myself.’ But his voice was clear, and he listened to us well.”
However, on the evening of Feb. 16, as the complexity of the pope’s condition became more serious, parishioners in Gaza had “no expectation of communication with the pope.”
Nevertheless, Father Romanelli said, “he sent me a short message saying he was grateful for the closeness and prayers and reciprocated with his blessing.”
“We hope that his recovery happens soon and that he can return to St. Peter’s to continue his mission and his work,” he added.
