Rome, Italy — Pope Francis remained in critical condition on Sunday as blood tests revealed early kidney failure, though he remains alert and responsive, the Vatican confirmed. Despite his frail state, the 88-year-old pontiff attended Mass privately as he continues his battle with pneumonia and a complex lung infection.
In a late update, Vatican officials reported that Pope Francis had not experienced any further respiratory crises since Saturday night. However, he is still receiving high-flow supplemental oxygen to support his breathing.
Medical tests indicated “initial, mild kidney failure,” but doctors reassured that the condition is currently under control. Specialists continue to monitor his health closely as he undergoes treatment for multiple ailments.
“The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for drug therapies to provide some feedback, dictate that the prognosis remains guarded,” the Pope’s medical team stated.
Global Prayers and Reflections on the Pope’s Fate
Prayers for Pope Francis have poured in from around the world, from his native Argentina to the seat of Sunni Islam in Cairo to schoolchildren in Rome. In New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan acknowledged what church leaders in Rome have yet to say publicly: that the Catholic faithful are united “at the bedside of a dying father.”
“As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death,” Dolan said in his homily from the pulpit of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, though he later told reporters he hoped and prayed that Francis would “bounce back.”
Doctors have described the Pope’s condition as touch-and-go, citing his age, fragility, and pre-existing lung disease. His deteriorating health has renewed speculation about what might happen if he becomes unconscious or otherwise incapacitated, and whether he might consider resigning.
A Sunday Without Francis at the Vatican
Pope Francis was originally scheduled to celebrate Mass on Sunday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica and ordain deacons as part of the Vatican’s yearlong Holy Year commemoration. In his absence, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the event’s organizer, stepped in to lead the Mass.
“Even though he is in a hospital bed, we feel Pope Francis close to us. We feel him present among us,” Fisichella told the hundreds of white-robed deacons before offering a special prayer for the ailing pontiff.
A prewritten message, originally intended to be read by Francis himself but left undelivered, stated that he was “confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!” As always, he asked for prayers, while also noting the upcoming anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it “a painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity.”
Waves of Support from Around the World
In Pope Francis’ homeland of Argentina, Catholics gathered at Buenos Aires Cathedral to pray for his recovery, while the city’s iconic obelisk was illuminated with the words: “Francis, the city prays for you.”
From Cairo, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, who has built a close interfaith relationship with Francis, expressed his well wishes.
“I pray to Allah to grant my dear brother, Pope Francis, a swift recovery and to bless him with good health and well-being so that he may continue his journey in serving humanity,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
The American Jewish Committee also sent prayers, stating, “We stand together with our Catholic brothers and sisters during this challenging time.”
Meanwhile, in Italy, bishops led rosary prayers and celebrated special Masses dedicated to Francis’ recovery. Schoolchildren from across Rome have sent an outpouring of get-well cards to the Gemelli hospital, while the Vatican continues to call for prayers and hope.
As the world watches, Pope Francis’ condition remains uncertain, with doctors carefully assessing his fragile health. For now, the faithful wait—and pray.
SOURCE : AP NEWS | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |
