Chicago-native Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, led Monday night's Rosary in St. Peter's Square for the health of Pope Francis.
The cardinal had spent a lot of priesthood serving in Peru, before being called to the Curia.
The Rosary was prayed just a few hours after the Vatican's report that the Pope had had a hard day.
Cardinal Prevost emphasized that Mary, “the Mother of Holy Hope, assists, restores, and consoles all those who have recourse to her help,” while expressing the hope that she might also be “a sign of consolation and of sure hope.”
Monday marked a full week of these nightly Rosaries, held at 9 pm, Rome time. Each night, a different cardinal has led the Rosary, as their brother cardinals and thousands of pilgrims and faithful of Rome gather in the Square.
On Monday, the Rosary came after a worrisome evening report from the Vatican. Details of that can be found in the article immediately below.
Tuesday morning's report was that the Pope had had a quiet night.
The Pope's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was the first to lead this nightly Rosary. Others have included Cardinal Tagle of the Philippines and Cardinal Krajewski of Poland, and the prefect of the DDF, Cardinal Fernandez.
War is absurd, frailty brings trust
On Sunday, the text of the Pope's Angelus reflection was again released. In addition to assuring the People of God that he feels their closeness and prayer, the Pope reflected:
I pray for you too. And I pray above all for peace. From here, war appears even more absurd. Let us pray for tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and Kivu.
As well, he said that this experience of sickness has brought him even closer to God and the faithful:
I feel in my heart the “blessing” that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord; at the same time, I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share in body and spirit the condition of so many sick and suffering people.
Prayer for the Pope
We pray for Francis, our Pope.
May he and all the ill feel their companionship with the suffering Christ.
Grant him rest and restored health.
Amen.
Find our updates on the Pope's health here.
