Pope Francis says he faces ‘period of trial’ in health update
Pope Francis said he faces “during the trial” as he thanks those who wish for goodwill in Sunday’s prayers.
After being admitted to the hospital on February 14, the Pope of Argentina has been recovering from pneumonia in the hospital.
In today’s message, the 88-year-old has referred to the Bible passage and prayed for peace in “National Hurt by War.”
This marks the fifth straight Sunday, with the pope not taking part in his weekly blessings in person, although the Vatican said earlier this week that the X-rays had confirmed his condition “improved”. After that, he still needs hospital treatment.
“The Holy Father still needs medical treatments, exercise and respiratory therapy in the hospital; these therapies are being improved further and gradually,” it said in a statement Saturday.
The pope has not appeared in public since the pope was admitted to the hospital and has not released photos of religious figures.
“I joined many sick siblings: currently as vulnerable as I am,” the pope said in his statement today.
“Let us continue to pray for peace, especially in countries that are hurt by war: torture Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”
Since he arrived at the Jegley Hospital in Rome, the pope has been treated for double pneumonia and other infections.
He also suffered several respiratory crises, which attracted attention to his own survival.
Earlier this month, Pope Francis played a recording of Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
His voice was breathless as he thanked the Catholics for their prayers.
Francis was born in Jorge Mario Bergoglio and was the first pope in the Americas.
He suffered from pleurisitis at a young age and had partial pulmonary resection, which made him particularly vulnerable to pneumonia.
Due to his long-term recovery, there has been speculation that Pope Francis could choose to follow his predecessor, Benedict XVI, and resign.
But friends and biographers who are close to the pope insist that he has no plans to step down. And, despite his fragile health, the Pope continued to work in the hospital.
2025 is the Holy Year of the Catholic Church, and 32 million pilgrims are expected to come to Rome.
