Messages of support and prayers continue to pour in from across the globe as Pope Francis remains hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, following his admission on February 14th for bilateral pneumonia.
Since his hospitalization, religious leaders, political figures, friends, and faithful from around the world have sent heartfelt messages, including children hospitalized in the same facility, who, despite their own health struggles, express both sorrow for the Pope’s condition and joy in having him nearby.
One of the most notable messages came from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. In a handwritten letter, the Orthodox leader, addressing the Pope as his “beloved brother,” expressed wishes for a “swift and complete recovery,” hoping for a return to his “sacred and important duties” with God’s help.
United in Prayer
Another letter of support came from the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa. He called upon the faithful to unite “as one family in faith” in an urgent appeal for Pope Francis’ health, urging them to come together “in prayer and supplication.”
In Lebanon, Cardinal Béchara Boutros Pierre Raï, the Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, shared that he has prayed both publicly and privately for the Pope’s recovery, expressing a prayerful wish for the Lord’s healing power to be upon him.
The Symposium of Bishops’ Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) also expressed solidarity and spiritual closeness, reassuring Pope Francis of the faithful’s support from across the African continent.
Prayers from Argentina and Latin America
Back in Pope Francis’ home country of Argentina, Archbishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva of Buenos Aires urged the faithful to pray for the Pope, expressing their love and asking God to strengthen and heal him so he may continue his mission.
Messages of prayer and solidarity have also been received from bishops and dioceses across Latin America, including Uruguay, Mexico, Ecuador, Chile, Peru, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), under the leadership of Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre, Brazil, expressed deep affection and support in a letter, offering prayers for the Pope’s health and patience.
In Brazil, the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB) called for special prayers for Pope Francis’ full recovery, asking the faithful to remember him during Mass on February 22nd, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. Cardinal Spengler encouraged the faithful to include a prayer for the Pope, recognizing him as a “witness to the sufferings of Christ.”
Support from Canada, the US, and Asia
Prayers for the Pope’s recovery are also being offered in Canada, where Bishop William McGrattan of Calgary, President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), invited individuals, families, and parish communities to pray for the Pope’s strength and health.
In the United States, Catholic bishops have published a special prayer for Pope Francis on their website, joining the global wave of support.
In Asia, the Filipino Episcopal Conference, led by Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, called on the faithful to pray for the Pope’s healing. Similarly, Chinese Catholics are engaging in prayer and fasting for his recovery, with the website xinde.org providing updates from the Holy See on the Pope’s health.
Global Leaders Offer Support
World leaders have also expressed their good wishes for Pope Francis. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited him at the hospital on February 19th. On February 21st, UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke to Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, emphasizing the Pope’s global significance and expressing hopes for his speedy recovery.
Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, offered optimism, stating that the latest updates suggest the Pope is on the road to a full recovery, which he hopes will come soon.
On Friday evening, the Pope’s medical team confirmed that his condition was not life-threatening. They reported that Pope Francis was sitting upright, working, and joking as usual, though he remains under medical care and will stay in the hospital for at least another week. While the Pope is making progress, his doctors have advised that he is not yet out of danger.
