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CV NEWS FEED // Pope Francis showed some improvement in his condition on Feb. 24 and was able to rest well during the night of Feb. 24 to 25, the Holy See Press Office reported, according to Vatican News.
The pope, who entered Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14, is receiving treatment for bronchitis and bilateral pneumonia, as CatholicVote previously reported. He is 88.
According to Vatican News, the press office’s Feb. 24 evening update on the pontiff’s health indicated that his health has shown some improvement, but, because of his health problems, “doctors are prudently maintaining their cautious prognosis.”
““No episodes of asthma-like respiratory distress occurred [Monday], and some laboratory tests have shown improvement,” the evening update said, according to Vatican News. “The monitoring of his mild kidney insufficiency has not raised any concerns. Oxygen therapy continues, although with slightly reduced flow and oxygen levels.”
The pope received the Blessed Sacrament the morning of Feb. 24 and worked in the afternoon, according to the evening update article Vatican News published. The pontiff was able to call the pastor of Holy Family parish in Gaza.
“Reports have emerged that the people of the parish had sent a video message to the Pope, for which he thanked them during his phone call,” the article said.
People around the world continue to pray for the pope and call for prayers for him.
“Starting this evening, the cardinals residing in Rome, along with all collaborators of the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome, responding to the sentiments of the people of God, will gather in St. Peter’s Square at 9 p.m. to recite the holy rosary for the health of the Holy Father,” the Holy See Press Office said in a statement, according to another Vatican News article.
Hundreds of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square at 9 p.m. Feb. 24, Rome time, to pray the rosary for the pope, led by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, Vatican News reported in an article about the event.
“In the Acts of the Apostles, it is written that the Church prayed intensely while Peter was kept in prison. For two thousand years, the Christian people have prayed for the Pope when he is in danger or ill,” Cardinal Parolin said, according to the article. “Even in these days, as Pope Francis has been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital, an intense prayer has risen to the Lord from individual faithful and Christian communities worldwide.”
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in an X post invited the faithful to join in praying the rosary for the pope at the same time “to show the closeness of the Church to Pope Francis and all who are sick.”
Ordained Tyler, Texas, bishop Joseph Strickland said in a post on X the afternoon of Feb. 24 that the attention on the pope’s health blesses both the pope and the world.
“It is certainly a blessing for him and we all need to pray for his strength in Christ,” the post said. “It is also a blessing for all of us, it speaks of a deep rooted longing for the eternal life that only Jesus Christ offers because He is God’s only begotten Son. May Pope Francis receive the ultimate healing that is eternal life in Christ, according to God’s perfect will. May the suffering Pope Francis is enduring bear the good fruit of awakening many to their longing for what only Jesus Christ offers, eternal life with God.”