By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Roman Catholics globally gathered in prayer on Sunday for Pope Francis, who remains in critical condition. The 88-year-old pontiff, admitted to a Rome hospital on February 14 due to pneumonia, required oxygen and a blood transfusion after a severe respiratory episode on Saturday.
Despite the seriousness of his condition, the Vatican reported he had a restful night. “Pneumonia is a serious illness for his age, that’s why we should be worried,” said a tourist from the Philippines.
Prayers for the pope’s health echoed in churches worldwide, from Manila to Sydney, with many expressing their hope for his recovery and continued leadership.
Father Vicente Gabriel Bautista, during Mass in Manila, prayed for the pope’s healing, saying, “May the Lord continue to extend to him his love, his mercy and his healing.”
In Buenos Aires, a missionary nun from Mexico expressed her heartfelt hopes, saying, “We pray for him as he is a symbol of Christianity, and we need him.”
Meanwhile, in East Timor, Catarina Baros, 16, shared her gratitude for the pope’s visit last year, lighting a candle for his recovery, “I am touched by his presence here, and I pray for his strength.”
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