Bishops call for prayers for Pope Francis

By OSV NEWS

(OSV News) – Catholic bishops throughout the U.S. are calling on faithful to pray for Pope Francis, now in critical condition in Rome’s Gemelli hospital amid a days-long battle with respiratory illness.

On Saturday, Bishop McManus called for prayers. “I ask all Catholics and people of good will to join with me in prayer this weekend for the recovery of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, who is reported to be in critical condition,” he said. “May Jesus Christ the source of all healing restore him to health and the continued guidance of our Church as the Vicar of Christ.”

As of Feb. 26, the Vatican evening medical bulletin said that Pope Francis’ condition has showed “further slight improvement” in the previous 24 hours.

The “mild renal insufficiency” previously noted in the pope’s condition “has receded,” the bulletin said, and the results of a CT scan performed Feb. 25 showed a “normal evolution” of his pulmonary inflammation.

The results come from the third CT scan the pope has received during his hospitalization; he was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs after the second scan, which was performed Feb. 18.

Notably, the evening bulletin did not describe the pope’s condition as “critical,” as it had each day since Feb. 22, but said his “prognosis remains guarded.”

The 88-year-old pope, who has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital since Feb. 14, “continues high-flow oxygen therapy” and did not have another “asthmatic respiratory crisis” like the one he experienced Feb. 22, the Vatican said. The pope began receiving oxygen through a nasal cannula after that incident and “continues respiratory physiotherapy.”

Starting on Feb. 24, “the cardinals resident in Rome, together with the collaborators of the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome, and all the faithful who wish to join them” will gather each night to pray the rosary at 9 p.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ health and as a sign of closeness to him.

Rome’s Gemelli hospital began a series of “spiritual initiatives” at their facilities Feb. 24: the rosary will be recited every afternoon in the courtyard outside the hospital beneath the suite of rooms reserved for the pope on the 10th floor; and Mass preceded by Eucharistic adoration will be held starting at noon each day in the hospital chapel.

Other bishops throughout the United States also called for prayers.

“Let’s pray hard for the Holy Father!” wrote Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles in a Feb. 23 X post. “Let’s entrust him to the tender care of Our Blessed Mother, may she be close to him in his hour of trial and may she guide him to a full and speedy recovery.”

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops encouraged Catholics to pray the rosary for Pope Francis on Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. eastern time which aligned with the rosary in St. Peter’s Square.
Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez of Philadelphia issued a Feb. 22 statement requesting prayers for Pope Francis and provided a suggested petition for the prayer of the faithful at Sunday Mass Feb. 23 “and the next several days,” asking that Pope Francis “may be strengthened in every way by the Lord in his present suffering and be uplifted by the prayers for him by people all over the world.”

Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, also urged prayers for the pope.
In a Feb. 22 post on X, the cardinal said, “On this feast of the Chair of Saint Peter let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide Pope Francis in his ministry of hope. May the Spirit of God grant him good health, courage, wisdom and peace.”

Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago – who had invited prayers for the pope’s “prompt healing” in a Feb. 18 post on X – released a Feb. 22 statement, saying, “Please continue your prayers for his recovery and for the health care professionals working to lead him through this setback. We ask our Merciful Lord to restore Pope Francis to good health and to keep him free from pain as he receives treatment.”

Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis also tweeted a prayer Feb. 22. “... We join Catholics and those of good will around the globe in praying for Pope Francis: May he be restored to good health and be comforted at this critical time by our prayers and the maternal intercession of Mary, Help of the Sick,” he said.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has posted a prayer for Pope Francis on its website, asking God to “look favorably on your servant Francis … that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life.”