Pope Francis at Angelus Prayer: ‘I feel supported by prayers’
Sunday has seen another reassuring message from the Vatican press office on the state of health of Pope Francis, who has been hospitalised for over two weeks at the Gemelli polyclinic in Rome for pneumonia.
“The night was calm, the Pope is still resting”, Vatican sources reported in the Sunday morning update. According to reports from inside the hospital, the Pontiff had breakfast and received Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and the Substitute, Monsignor Edgar Pena Parra. His treatment continues.
Already in Saturday evening’s medical bulletin, the Holy Father’s clinical condition had been described as stable.
The pontiff reportedly has no fever and shows no leukocytosis. “His haemodynamic parameters have always remained stable. He has continued to feed himself and has regularly undergone respiratory physiotherapy, collaborating actively,” the Vatican reported.
Third Sunday without Angelus being read by the Pope
For the third Sunday in a row the Pontiff has not read the Angelus. The text was broadcast as on the two previous occasions. “I send you these thoughts again from the hospital, where as you know I have been for several days, accompanied by the doctors and health workers, whom I thank for the attention with which they take deva of me”, Pope Francis wrote.
“I feel in my heart the ‘blessing’ that is hidden within fragility, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God because He gives me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people”, the text sent by the Vatican press office continues.
Then he reflects on the ongoing wars. “From here, the war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for the tormented Ukraine, for Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, Kivu.”
The Holy Father also thanked the faithful who flocked to pray for him. “I would like to thank you for the prayers, which rise up to the Lord from the hearts of so many faithful from many parts of the world: I feel all your affection and closeness and, in this particular moment, I feel as if ‘carried’ and supported by the entire People of God. Thank you all!”
In the meantime, the faithful continue to gather in front of the polyclinic, leaving cards at the foot of the statue of Pope John Paul II and praying for Francis’ recovery.
