Prayers sought for pneumonia-stricken Pope Francis

National

CHURCH leaders have called for community prayers for the healing of Pope Francis, who was hospitalized due to double pneumonia.

Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula called on parishes and communities to organize prayers and gatherings for the intention of Healing the Sick. He also encouraged everyone to offer personal and family prayers for this intention.

“I would like to request our parishes and communities to organize community prayers for the intention of Pope Francis, like gathering our people for a Holy Hour for the Healing of the Sick, especially of the Pope,” Advincula said in a statement.

Advincula noted that Archbishop Charles Brown, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines, also appealed for the speedy recovery of the Holy Father and for the medical staff caring for him.

In the appeal, the cardinal also offered a prayer for the Church during this trying time.

Cebu Archbishop Jose S. Palma from the Archdiocese of Cebu, also sought for the cooperation of the Sugboanons to join in the prayer for the healing of the 88-year-old pontiff.

"On behalf of the Archdiocese of Cebu, I would like to solicit and ask for your fervent prayers for our Holy Father who we know is sick. In God's love, we pray for his healing. We know how much he means to us, and how much he loves us. In this prayer of healing, may he recover to good health, that he may continue to serve in the same zeal and charity for all of us. And so once more, I plead, I ask for fervent prayers for the intentions of our Holy Father. We pray that the Lord, in His kindness, will bring him back to health,” Palma stated.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David also sought for the prayers of healing for the Pope.

“May I ask for your prayers for his healing and recovery during this challenging time,” David said.(Johanna Sumalinog, USJ-R Intern)