By Ferdinand Patinio
MANILA – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Wednesday asked the faithful to pray for Pope Francis who has been hospitalized since last week due to pneumonia.
“Prayers, Please. Pope Francis is currently hospitalized and is undergoing treatment for pneumonia. Despite his condition, doctors say he remains in good spirits and has expressed gratitude for the prayers he has received,” CBCP president Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David said in a Facebook post.
The Caloocan prelate said the Vatican has canceled all of the Pope’s engagements as he battles the complex respiratory infection.
“May I ask for your prayers for his healing and recovery during this challenging time,” David said.
Meanwhile, Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown has appealed for prayers for the speedy recovery of the pope.
“I appeal to everyone to please pray for the Holy Father, pray for his speedy recovery, and let us also pray for all the doctors and nurses who are taking care of him,” he said in an interview over Church-run Radio Veritas.
Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula, for his part, asked parishes and communities under the Archdiocese of Manila to pray for the immediate recovery of Pope Francis.
In a written appeal, Advincula requested churches and groups to organize community prayers for the Holy Father.
“I would like to request our parishes and communities to organize community prayers for the intention of Pope Francis, like gathering our people for a Holy Hour for the Healing of the Sick, especially of the Pope. Let us likewise offer our personal and family prayers for this intention,” he said.
“Let us unite ourselves in prayer in this trying time for the Church,” Advincula added.
The Manila archbishop also issued a prayer that goes:
“Loving and merciful God, we implore You to look kindly upon Your servant, Pope Francis
Touch him with your compassion and consolation
Restore his health and renew his strength in mind, body, and spirit
Surround him with your peace
and the support of the prayers of your holy people
We place Pope Francis in your healing love through the doctors, nurses,
and medical professionals who take care of him
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mary, Health of the Sick, pray for us”
Vatican News said a chest CT scan conducted on the Holy Father showed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which requires additional pharmacological treatment.
On Feb. 14, the 88-year-old pontiff was confined at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome due to bronchitis. (PNA)
