Well, the Pope's health still remains firmly in the balance tonight. On Tuesday, the Vatican saying that Francis is in *** stable condition, but he will overnight be on *** non-invasive ventilator, providing him with. Oxygen Francis did not have any respiratory crises on Tuesday. We're told. He did not resume work and of course this comes after *** number or two crises on Monday. Now in the Vatican there's still obviously *** lot of concern about the Pope's condition. He's in his 19th day of hospitalization. At the Ji Hospital battling pneumonia in both of his lungs, *** Vatican source saying that his recent crises and spasms, bronchial spasms are to be expected given his condition. But I've spoken to *** medical expert who says that the Pope's condition is like *** fire in your house. You can put the fire out, but it's the long term damage that is the question. It is still very uncertain how long the Pope will be in hospital and what the prognosis is that remains, the Vatican said tonight, reserved, too soon to tell. Now tomorrow is the start of Lent, the preparation that the Catholic Church makes for Easter, the high point of the church's liturgical year. Tomorrow, the Pope will not be leading the Ash Wednesday service that will be presided over by *** Vatican cardinal. Behind me prayers were said for Pope Francis on Tuesday night, as they have been said every evening in St. Peter's during these recent days. Of course those prayers being said beneath the balcony of St. Peter's where the Pope, almost 12 years to the day, appeared for the first time after his election, and at that moment he asked the people to pray for him. And that is exactly what they are doing now for Francis as he continues his treatment for pneumonia in the hospital. We are expecting *** further update from the Vatican on Wednesday morning. Christopher Lamb, CNN, Rome.
Clutched by the global faithful and draped on candles and statues, rosaries abound for Pope Francis
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Updated: 11:58 AM CST Mar 6, 2025
As Pope Francis remains hospitalized in Rome, thousands of faithful from around the world have been gathering by St. Peter's and by the hospital to pray the rosary for him.Dating to the Middle Ages and popularized in the 16th century, the chain of beads that comprises a rosary is one of the most visible symbols of Christianity 鈥� handheld by young and old, hanging from monks' belts, draped around rearview mirrors in vehicles, crafted in precious stones, olive tree wood from the Holy Land or cheap, even gaudy plastic.Repetitive prayer exists across multiple faiths. For Catholics, the rosary consists of reciting one "Our father" and ten "Hail Mary" prayers, five times over 鈥� starting each "decade" with a brief meditation on different mysteries about the life of Jesus and Mary.They vary depending on the day of the week 鈥� from "glorious" ones like Mary's assumption to "sorrowful" ones like Jesus climbing the Calvary hill."Mary is the mediator between God and humankind," said the Rev. Enzo Fortunato, a Franciscan who leads the Vatican committee for World Children's Day. "We turn to Mary as children, with the certainty that she listens to us like a mother."The prayer can be done individually or in groups, as it has been done for Francis, at home or on pilgrimage on in churches. The Basilica in Lourdes, France, one of the most popular sites of pilgrimage in Europe, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, the origin of the images of Mary holding the rosary.It's long been a tradition in many countries to pray the rosary for the ill. When the group rosaries in St. Peter's Square started the night of Feb. 24, many were reminded of the somber vigils held when St. John Paul II was hospitalized at the end of his papacy in 2005."It's a simple prayer, that doesn't require special knowledge or preparation," said Ferm铆n Labarga, professor of church history at the University of Navarra in Spain. "It teaches us to pray like Mary, always contemplating Christ."
As Pope Francis remains hospitalized in Rome, thousands of faithful from around the world have been gathering by St. Peter's and by the hospital to pray the rosary for him.
Dating to the Middle Ages and popularized in the 16th century, the chain of beads that comprises a rosary is one of the most visible symbols of Christianity 鈥� handheld by young and old, hanging from monks' belts, draped around rearview mirrors in vehicles, crafted in precious stones, olive tree wood from the Holy Land or cheap, even gaudy plastic.
Repetitive prayer exists across multiple faiths. For Catholics, the rosary consists of reciting one "Our father" and ten "Hail Mary" prayers, five times over 鈥� starting each "decade" with a brief meditation on different mysteries about the life of Jesus and Mary.
They vary depending on the day of the week 鈥� from "glorious" ones like Mary's assumption to "sorrowful" ones like Jesus climbing the Calvary hill.
"Mary is the mediator between God and humankind," said the Rev. Enzo Fortunato, a Franciscan who leads the Vatican committee for World Children's Day. "We turn to Mary as children, with the certainty that she listens to us like a mother."
The prayer can be done individually or in groups, as it has been done for Francis, at home or on pilgrimage on in churches. The Basilica in Lourdes, France, one of the most popular sites of pilgrimage in Europe, is dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, the origin of the images of Mary holding the rosary.
It's long been a tradition in many countries to pray the rosary for the ill. When the group rosaries in St. Peter's Square started the night of Feb. 24, many were reminded of the somber vigils held when St. John Paul II was hospitalized at the end of his papacy in 2005.
"It's a simple prayer, that doesn't require special knowledge or preparation," said Ferm铆n Labarga, professor of church history at the University of Navarra in Spain. "It teaches us to pray like Mary, always contemplating Christ."
