ROME — The Vatican has announced the commencement of evening prayers in St. Peter’s Square for the well-being of Pope Francis, inviting both locals and visitors to partake in this solemn gathering as the 88-year-old leader grapples with a serious lung infection alongside other health issues.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s second-in-command, is set to lead the initial session of prayer, which has drawn parallels to the candlelit vigils that took place prior to the passing of St. John Paul II in 2005.
Currently, Pope Francis is contending with double pneumonia and is experiencing early signs of kidney insufficiency. However, reports indicate that he is alert and in relatively good spirits, free from pain, and not requiring artificial nutrition.
“The night went well; the Pope was able to rest peacefully,” stated the Vatican, promising a medical update later in the day.
At the Gemelli hospital, where the Pope has been receiving care since February 14 after a progression of bronchitis, Bishop Claudio Giulio Dori led a heartfelt Mass attended by about 200 individuals. Many were healthcare professionals dressed in white coats or surgical scrub attire, and attendees were seen kneeling in prayer in the chapel dedicated to John Paul II.
Filomena Ferraro, who was at the hospital visiting a family member, expressed the collective sentiment, saying, “We feel sorrowful. Pope Francis is a kind-hearted leader; we can only hold onto hope.”
On the evening of Sunday, doctors communicated that while Francis remained in a critical state, he had not suffered any additional respiratory distress since the previous Saturday. Recent blood work indicated a “slight” yet manageable early-stage kidney insufficiency.
Doctors confirmed that Pope Francis is receiving high levels of supplemental oxygen. He was reported to be responsive and even participated in a Mass on Sunday, though his overall prognosis remains cautious.
Medical professionals have characterized the Pope’s situation as delicate, emphasizing his advanced age, vulnerability, and existing lung conditions. They highlighted the significant risk facing him—sepsis, a severe blood infection that can stem from pneumonia-related complications, although there have been no indications of sepsis in the Vatican’s latest health updates.
This hospitalization marks the longest period Pope Francis has been confined to the hospital during his papacy, matching the 10-day duration he spent there in 2021 after undergoing colon surgery.
In New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan openly acknowledged the somber reality that church leaders in Rome have been hesitant to publicly address. “As Pope Francis is navigating such fragile health, we are essentially united at the bedside of a beloved father nearing the end,” he expressed during his sermon at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, even as he continued to hold onto hope for the Pope’s recovery.
In recent updates, it was clarified that doctors recorded the early signs of kidney insufficiency and not kidney failure as previously stated.
