Pope Francis expressed his deep gratitude for the prayers and support he has received during his hospitalization while also offering prayers for those suffering worldwide.
On March 2, Vatican sources reported that the 88-year-old pontiff met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14. The visit followed a restful night for the pope, during which he slept well, read newspapers, and continued his prescribed treatments.
In his Sunday message released by the Vatican’s press office, Pope Francis thanked the faithful, saying, “I feel all your affection and closeness and, at this particular time, I feel as if I am ‘carried’ and supported by all God’s people.”
Although unable to deliver the Angelus prayer publicly for the third consecutive time, Francis reflected on the Gospel reading of the day (Luke 6:39-45), emphasizing the importance of fraternal correction rooted in charity rather than condemnation.
“I feel in my heart the ‘blessing’ that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord,” the pope wrote, expressing solidarity with those who are sick and suffering.
Turning his prayers toward global conflicts, Pope Francis lamented the “absurdity of war” and called for peace in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and Kivu.
A medical update on the pope’s condition is expected later on Sunday. Meanwhile, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, will lead a rosary for the pope’s health at 9 p.m. local time in St. Peter’s Square.
