Pope Francis begs prayers in a hospital message

Pope Francis has asked the Catholics to pray for him as he continues to receive treatment at a double pneumonia hospital.

The Pontif failed to personally deliver the traditional Angelus prayer for the second Sunday.

But in a message written in the last few days, he said he “confidently continues his” hospitalization at the Gemeli Hospital in Rome and “continues with the necessary treatment”.

The message comes after Vatican revealed on Saturday that the 88-year-old's condition continues to be “critical”S

In his message, published on Sunday, the Pope thanked the doctors and healthcare professionals at the hospital and well -wishers who sent messages.

“In recent days, I have received many messages of attachment and I was particularly struck by the letters and drawings by children,” he writes.

“Thank you for this closeness and for the prayers of the comfort I have received from all over the world! I provide you all in the petition of Maria and ask you to pray for me.”

The well -wishers continue to pray outside the hospital.

Dozens of people have been seen to illuminate candles and leave them at the foot of the nearby statue of the late Pope John Paul II.

The 88-year-old was First admitted to hospital on February 14 After testing difficulties in breathing for several days.

He is especially predisposed to pulmonary infections due to the development of pleurisy – inflammation around the lungs – as an adult and has part of one of his lungs at 21 years old.

For his 12 years as the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, the Argentine was admitted to hospital several times, including in March 2023, when he spent three nights in a hospital with bronchitis.

The Pope demanded openness about his health, so the Vatican began to release daily statements. The tone and length of the messages varied, sometimes letting the papa examiners try to read between the lines.

On Saturday, the Vatican said the Roman Catholic leader was on the lookout and spent the day in an armchair, but that he was “not out of danger” and that he was “more nasty” than he was on Friday.

They added that pontiff needed blood transfusion due to low platelet counts – associated with anemia – and it requires a “high flow” of oxygen.

Doctors treating the Pope confirmed this week that he responds to medication, but his condition is complicated and the smallest change of circumstances will upset what is called “delicate balance”.

“He is the Pope,” as one of them said. “But he is also human.”

The Pope also uses his message on Sunday to emphasize the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine on Monday and urged people to remember all the victims of armed conflict and “pray for the gift of Mira in Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle East, Myanmar , Kivu and Sudan. “

Angel's prayer is usually exported from the Pope from the window of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican and is accompanied by a short message.