Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital Feb. 14 after suffering from bronchitis and difficulty breathing
VATICAN CITY — The U.S. bishops urged the faithful to join in on a call from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to pray the Rosary for Pope Francis Feb. 24 as he remains hospitalized.
The Vatican press office said Cardinal Parolin will lead a Rosary for the pontiff in St. Peter’s Square at 9 p.m. local time. The U.S. bishops urged Catholics to join that prayer at the same time, 2 p.m. Central time (3 p.m. Eastern).
“We invite the faithful to join the Vatican Secretary of State in praying the Rosary at 3 pm EST to show the closeness of the Church to Pope Francis and all who are sick,” a post on X from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said.
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.
The press office publishes a longer statement every evening, which the doctors said they write and give to the pope for his approval before publication.
Pope Francis’ condition remained “critical” the evening of Feb. 23, his doctors had said, with blood tests showing “initial, mild renal insufficiency, at present under control.”
The pope did not have a repeat of the “respiratory crisis” he experienced Feb. 22, the doctors’ bulletin had said, but he continued to use supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula.
A blood transfusion administered Feb. 22, the bulletin said, did prove beneficial “with a rise in the value of hemoglobin.” However, it added, his platelet count was still low.
“The complexity of his clinical picture, and the need to wait for the drug therapies to provide some result, dictate that the prognosis remains reserved,” the doctors had said late Feb. 23.
