The prefect of Dicastery for Culture and Education, Cardinal Tolentino Mendonça, requested prayers for the health of Pope Francis that was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli polyclinic of Rome due to bronchitis that has worsened in recent days.
“Our first thought goes to Pope Francis, we pray for his health. We appreciate the support it always offers us, ”he said from the main altar of the Basilica of San Pedro del Vaticano before starting the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
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The Cardinal of Mendonça celebrated this morning before about 10,000 artists from all over the world the Eucharist instead of the 88 -year -old pontiff, who two days ago was hospitalized.
According to the last medical part of the Vatican press office, the Pontiff is positively reacting to pharmacological therapy but continues in the process of recovery and needs absolute rest.
The Holy Father revealed to the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris, Chems-Eddine Hafiz, whom he received in private audience on Monday, who felt “locked in Santa Marta, unable to leave because I am sick, I have serious bronchitis.”
The day before, on Sunday, he had insisted on presiding over the liturgical ceremony in the Plaza de San Pedro on the occasion of the Jubilee of the Armed Forces, but, when the time was to read the homily, he had to stop and asked the master of liturgical ceremonies Pontifical, Monsignor Diego Ravelli, who will continue instead.
A similar episode also occurred on Wednesday during the General Hearing in the Classroom Pablo VI: Francisco asked a collaborator to read the speech he planned to pronounce, telling those present that he expected to “be able to do it next time.”
For this reason, the Pontiff’s audiences were held throughout the week at the Santa Marta house, their official residence, to avoid exposure to the cold of Roman winter in the transfer to the Apostolic Palace.
In any case, Friday’s hospitalization was not considered emergency, since Pope Francis met all the meetings scheduled on his agenda, including the one he had with the Slovak Prime Minister, Robert Fico, and with the executive director of CNN, Mark Thompson.
Victoria Cardiel
Victoria Cardiel is a journalist specialized in social and religious information issues. Since 2013, he has covered all the news of the Vatican for various media, such as the Spanish news agency Europa Press, or the weekly of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Alfa and Omega.