Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the Pope's vicar for the Diocese of Rome, invited Catholics on February 19, 2025, to offer "an hour of silent adoration" for the Pope's health. The Holy Father, 88 has been hospitalized at the Gemelli since February 14.
“We are following up on the health of our bishop, Pope Francis, with attention and trust,” said the pontiff's vicar for his Diocese of Rome.
“Aware of the value of community prayer, we ask all parish and religious communities to observe an hour of silent adoration” before tonight's evening Mass, continues the statement posted on the website of the Diocese of Rome.
“As one big family, we ask the Lord to give our bishop the strength to face this complex moment,” concluded the 54-year-old Italian cardinal.
Pope Francis is suffering from double pneumonia and has been hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome for six days.
Other prayer initiatives have been launched around the world in recent days. The Bishops' Conference of Argentina, the Pope's native country, issued a message on Monday inviting the faithful to pray for the Pope's health.
Other messages have come in from the bishops of Belgium, Nicaragua (where the Church is persecuted), Manila, and the United States.
The Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, expressed his concern for the health of the head of the Catholic Church, wishing him a “full recovery.”
On the political front, US Vice-President J. D. Vance posted a prayer appeal on the social network X last night:
Follow updates here.
