Pope Francis, who is doing well on his pneumonia treatment, praised his medical staff on Sunday despite missing his fourth consecutive in-person Angelus prayer.
The 88-year-old, who has been in the Gemelli hospital in Rome since February 14, wrote an Angelus in which he praised the “closeness and kindness” of people who volunteer to help those in need.
“I also feel the consideration of service and the compassion of care, especially from the physicians and medical staff, for whom I am incredibly grateful,” he stated.
In the Vatican-published essay, he stated, “We need this, the’miracle of tenderness’ which accompanies those who are in hardship, bringing a little light into the night of pain.”
The head of the 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide has already visited the Gemelli, most notably for a hernia operation in 2023 and colon surgery in 2021.
Francis’s multiple pulmonary crises during this hospital stay have raised concerns that the old pope may have to retire or that his recuperation would take a long time.
The Vatican reported on Saturday that the pope had finally shown “a steady, moderate improvement” and was responding well to treatment, marking a number of days free of crises.
According to an evening medical report, the pope’s physicians want to see the more encouraging results “in the coming days” before making a prognosis, even though he does not have a fever.
On Monday afternoon, the next bulletin is anticipated.
Francis has been taking breaks, praying, and working when he feels like it.
He was joined on Sunday morning by Edgar Pena Parra, an archbishop from Venezuela and a high-ranking Vatican official, and Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state.
His presence was greatly missed, according to many who gathered in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, where Francis would typically stand at a Vatican window and read the Angelus to multitudes below.
Diana Desiderio, a volunteer for the Pescara civil protection service, stated, “He is a beautiful person who has contributed so much and I hope that he can return as soon as possible.”
Francis’ “come to the window again and bring calm and serenity to everyone, since we need it” is what she and other volunteers are hoping for, she told AFP.
The pope’s customary appeal for peace amid wars, “particularly in tortured Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” concluded the Angelus.
“I hope that they cease finally, with full respect for all ethnic and religious components of society,” he said, expressing concern over the return of violence in some parts of Syria.
Catholics have also been congregating at the Gemelli hospital to leave cards, flowers, and candles or to pray for Francis.
For the second consecutive Sunday, 74-year-old Giuseppe Antonio Perazzo was at the hospital, looking dapper in a coat and tie, hoping the pope might stop by the window.
The Argentine pope, who is known for being a stubborn patient, was advised to “keep doing what the doctors and nurses tell you to do” by a sign he held up in front of the windows of the pope’s apartments.
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