Pope Francis stable after hospital stay, faithful offer prayers
Pope Francis spent a peaceful night in hospital, the Holy See Press Office reported.
Pope Francis, who is staying in hospital, had a peaceful night and woke up. The Holy See Press Office reported that his health condition remains stable, without any episodes of respiratory failure.
The next medical bulletin regarding the pope’s condition will be issued on Saturday.
In the Thursday evening medical bulletin, it was reported that the clinical condition of the 88-year-old Francis is stable, and he had no episodes of respiratory failure.
The faithful pray for Francis's health
On Thursday evening, at the beginning of the prayer for the pope’s health at St. Peter’s Square, Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, who led it, announced his greetings; the first since his hospitalisation on 14 February.
Francis, with a weakened voice, said with apparent difficulty in Spanish: "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the Square, I accompany you from here."
"May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you," added the pope.
In this recording, a person in suffering could be heard, the media emphasised. "The pope's voice moved the world," noted the Italian newspaper "Il Giornale." Meanwhile, "Il Messaggero" highlighted that it is the voice of a man who "fights vigorously with a severe illness."
The 88-year-old Francis is struggling with a serious case of pneumonia. He was admitted to the Gemelli clinic on 14 February. Earlier, he had been experiencing breathing problems for several days.
