Pope Francis, hospitalized for 31 days for respiratory problems, said this Sunday being “crossing a moment of proof” with a “weak” physique, in his message on the occasion of the Angelus, who sent in writing for the fifth consecutive week.
“While I am going through a moment of proof, I join the many sick brothers and sisters: fragile, at this time, like me,” writes the 88 -year -old Argentine Jesuit, who recovers at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome from a bilateral pneumonia.
“Our physique is weak, but even so, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, surrendering, being for each other,” adds the pontiff, who, since his hospitalization on February 14, has not appeared in public nor has he spread his images.
The last medical part, broadcast on Saturday night by the Holy See, indicated that its health status remains “stable”, but that it still needs to continue its therapy in the hospital despite its “gradual improvement”.
As a sample of this improvement, Jorge Bergoglio “progressively” the use of an oxygen mask at night, for the benefit of a nasal high flow cannula, which he already uses during the day and that forces the lungs to be more active.
Since its last strong relapse, registered on March 3, its condition has gradually improved and on Monday its prognosis ceased to be reserved, but doctors have not yet pronounced on a discharge date. The Vatican points to a slow recovery.
“With this tango, they have to register,” said AFP with a smile Daiana Guspero, a professional dancer born 38 years ago in Buenos Aires. The woman summoned a “prayer in motion” on social networks by the native of the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Flores.
To the sound of the bandoneon and despite the cold winter afternoon, 14 couples danced at the entrance of the hospital, wearing high heels, some red roses and even an Argentine soccer team with the number 10 of Messi.
“I want our energy to arrive, our love for tango and an Argentine Pope. I think the beautiful energy is going to get, ”added Guspero.
“Thank you, dear children!”
This hospitalization is the fourth and longer in its 12 years of pontificate and generates concern about the continuity of the Holy Father, who in recent times has refused to resign, as his predecessor Benedict XVI did in 2013.
On Tuesday, he also relaunched his great reform project on the future of the Church, which seeks greater decentralization and participation of lay people, and was projected even until October 2028, when the final assembly is expected.
Support samples occur with sentences worldwide. The first Latin American Pope reiterated his gratitude to the people who pray for his health and the medical staff that attends him.
At the foot of the statue of John Paul II, who chairs the hospital entrance, dozens of children waited for the time of the angelus with yellow and white balloons in his hand, shouting: “Pope Francis, Pope Francis!”
“Bringing children here is a bit like giving a window to a broader stage of the Christian life,” Valerio Santoboni, 23, whose Scout group of Rome took the drawings that children between 5 and 7 years old made the eve for the pontiff.
“Thank you, dear children! The Pope loves you and waits for you, ”Francisco added in his written message, who asked to continue praying for peace” in the martyred Ukraine, in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Burma, Sudan and Democratic Republic of the Congo. “
Unlike its hospitalization in 2021 for colon surgery, the pontiff has not yet left the hospital balcony to pronounce the Angelus, one of the most important quotes of contact with the faithful.