Catholic bishops, faithful worldwide pray for Pope Francis amid ongoing health struggles

The faithful pray the rosary for Pope Francis’ recovery at Major Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Lujan on Feb. 23, 2025 in Lujan, Argentina. / Credit: Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images

CNA Staff, Feb 24, 2025 / 14:15 pm (CNA).

Catholics around the world continue to pray fervently for Pope Francis as the Holy Father battles a series of medical emergencies at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The pope was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14 after struggling for several days with bronchitis. Over the weekend the Vatican said the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion, with the Holy See on Sunday evening stating that Francis’ condition was “critical.”

The Holy See Press Office on Monday indicated that the pope’s condition is stable. ”The night went well, the pope has slept and is resting,” the Vatican said Monday morning.

Francis is expected to stay in the hospital at least through Friday of this week. 

‘Let us gather so that our prayer may accompany him’

Around the world, Catholics over the weekend and into Monday offered prayers for Pope Francis amid his stay in the hospital.

On Saturday, dozens of Catholics gathered in front of Gemelli Hospital in Rome to pray the rosary for the health of the Holy Father. 

Local Catholics and jubilee pilgrims in Rome had earlier prayed for Pope Francis’ recovery, with visitors from France and Poland offering prayers while visiting the Eternal City. 

The Vatican announced on Monday that cardinals would lead a nightly rosary in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis. Cardinal Pietro Parolin was set to preside over the first prayer service on Monday.

Dioceses and bishops worldwide, meanwhile, have responded with prayers and Masses for the pope. In Kenya, Catholics gathered for Mass at Nairobi’s Holy Family Basilica on Sunday to pray for the Holy Father.

On Monday the Irish bishops said they had been praying for the pope’s recovery since his initial hospitalization earlier this month.

The prelates invited the faithful to join in the Vatican-led rosary on Monday evening.

In Buenos Aires on Monday, an evening Mass “for the health of Pope Francis” was scheduled to take place at the Plaza de la Constitución.

Francis served as archbishop of the Buenos Aires Archdiocese from 1998 to 2013. Current archbishop Jorge Ignacio García Cuerva said in a statement that the pope had “prayed so many times for his people” at the public plaza.

“Let us gather so that our prayer may accompany and encourage him in this moment of weakness,” the archbishop said. 

In the U.S., New York archbishop Cardinal Timothy Dolan said on X on Saturday that “our prayers are with the Holy Father.” 

“We entrust him to the hands of the Lord. We love him, and we’re with him all the way!” the prelate wrote.

Philadelphia Archbishop Nelson Pérez called on Catholics “to join in prayer for Pope Francis as he continues to battle serious illness.”

On Saturday evening, St. Paul and Minneapolis Archbishop Bernard Hebda noted that Saturday marked the feast of the Chair of Peter.

“[W]e join Catholics and those of goodwill around the globe in praying for Pope Francis: May he be restored to good health and be comforted at this critical time by our prayers and the maternal intercession of Mary, Help of the Sick,” the archbishop said. 

On Monday, Bishop Barry Knestout of Richmond, Virginia, said the faithful “continue to offer their love and support for Pope Francis.”

Knestout “asks all to join him in praying for an outpouring of grace upon the pontiff,” the diocese said in a statement. 

On Sunday the Archdiocese of Miami shared on Facebook the Hail Mary in both English and Spanish in response to the pope’s health crisis. “We ask Our Lady of Good Health to intercede for Pope Francis in his hour of need,” the archdiocese said. 

On its website on Monday the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops invited the faithful to join in “praying the rosary for Pope Francis.” The bishops included instructions on how to pray the rosary, including a list of the various mysteries associated with it. 

At the Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons on Sunday, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who celebrated the Mass, said the faithful could feel the Holy Father “close to us, present among us” at the Eucharistic celebration. 

“This compels us to make our prayer even stronger and more fervent, so that the Lord may assist him in this time of trial and illness,” he said.