Pope Francis on Sunday said he was
experiencing a period of trial, highlighting the shining signs
of hope that pervade places of care as he thanked well-wishers,
and in particular children, for their prayers in his Angelus
message from hospital where he is being treated for double
pneumonia.
As on previous Sundays since the pope was admitted to Rome's
Agostino Gemelli Hospital on February 14, the Angelus was
released by the Vatican without Francis reading it out.
"I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers
and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me.
"Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us
from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in
faith, shining signs of hope", he wrote in the Angelus message.
The Pontiff emphasised the "light" that shines in hospitals and
places of care, the loving care that pervades all the places
where "the humblest services are performed", and he invited
everyone to join him "in praising the Lord, who never abandons
us and who, in times of sorrow, places people beside us who
reflect a ray of His love".
Francis thanked all those who are praying for him, especially
children, including a group of about 300 kids who came to
Gemelli with several organizations to show their closeness at
the invitation of the Pontifical Committee for World Children's
Day on Sunday.
"The Pope loves you and is always looking forward to meeting
you", he wrote.
The Pontiff ended his Angelus message with prayers for peace
throughout the world, especially in "countries wounded by war:
in the tormented Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Myanmar,
Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo".
A medical bulletin released on Saturday evening said Pope
Francis's clinical conditions have remained stable, confirming
the progress highlighted over the past week as he battles
pneumonia.
The pontiff is continuing high-flow oxygen therapy,
progressively reducing the need for non-invasive mechanical
ventilation at night, the bulletin explained.
The Pope still requires medical therapy in hospital, motor and
respiratory physiotherapy; such therapies, at the moment, have
led to further, gradual improvements, it also said.
Vatican sources have said that the pontiff's recovery from
double pneumonia in Gemelli Hospital, also considering his age,
was slow so medical updates would likely be less frequent after
the bulletin issued on Saturday evening, considering the
88-year-old Argentine pontiff's stability.
The sources underlined that the Pontiff needs time to recover.
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