Pope Francis Health Crisis triggers prayer wave in Rome

Pope Francis Health Crisis triggers prayer wave in Rome

In Rome, many people, including Simona Pettinato, gathered to get their support for To express Franziskus . "The prayer moves mountains," she said in front of the Gemelli Hospital, where the Pope has been treated for pneumonia since February 14. "It helps everyone and we have to have great faith."

The concern for the state of health of the Pope

People in Rome and in the Vatican rely on their faith, while they cope with constant fear, news about the health status of the Pope. The Vatican often describes the state of Francis as "complex" and the forecast as "reserved", which means that it is too early to give a final assessment. While there have been some signs of a "easy improvement", his condition - at least until Tuesday - is still described as "critical".

a challenging hospital stay

This is the fourth and longest hospital stay of Francis since his election as a Pope in 2013. The entire central administration of the church is on a constant alert and is waiting around the clock for news about the sick pontifex.

journalists and Vatican civil servants update their e-mail mailboxes nervously in expectation of the two daily health reports. The first, a short and concise report, is sent early in the morning and informs about the Pope's night night. Sometimes there are details about whether he has had breakfast. In the evening a more detailed medical statement will be published.

prayers for the Pope

doctors who treat the Pope - Dr. Luigi Carbone from the health and hygiene service of the Vatican and Sergio Alfieri, a surgeon who had previously carried out operations on the Pope- have given a media briefing to Francis' condition. Sometimes the updates provide the alarm, sometimes they are more calming. But the prevailing feeling is uncertainty.

In the hospital, the Pope is housed in a special suite on the 10th floor, which also includes a chapel. He continues to carry out some “work activities”, supported by his two personal secretaries, and makes calls with the Catholic community in Gaza.

Below the Hospitalpiazza is a large statue of John Paul II, the first papal patient of the Gemelli Hospital, who made numerous visits there. Many people have built a provisional sanctuary here and left flowers, candles and balloons for Francis, while others keep a banner with the inscription: "Today we need you more than ever."

The community of faith

Alfonso la femmina is another one who found the way to the Gemelli. He says to CNN that he continues to pray and keep hope that "God should help."

"Whenever I read the message in the morning and in the evening that he slept well, it makes me happy," he explains. "When I hear that he is better, even if his condition is stable and the progress remains uncertain, I pray in the hope that he will get healthy as soon as possible."

Under the dark and cold February sky in St. Peter's Square, cardinals, bishops, nuns and hundreds of believers have gathered to pray the rosary for the Pope. It is reminiscent of a similar prayer service for Pope John Paul II when he was seriously ill in 2005.

international support

Franziskus is a popular Pope, and many people who are already in Rome for vacation or pilgrimage trips come to St. Peter's Square in view of the Pope's health crisis.

"We wanted to come here because I think it affects all Christians," says Richardo Martinez, a tourist from Spain who was traveling with his family on Wednesday. "In Spain, everything that affects the health of the Holy Father is very followed, and I think it is a good opportunity to be here, pray for him and to ask for his recovery."

Pastor Carlos, also from Spain, expresses: "We expect the medical reports. We have to pray. May he soon recover."

The worrying forecasts

on Sunday, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, expressed in a sermon from St. Patrick’s Cathedral that the Pope was "probably at the end of his days". And in a memo to the priests of the Archdiocese of New York, which CNN was present, said the cardinal vicar of general that the Pope was closer to the "end of his earthly journey" and suggestions how to deal with it. However, there is no evidence that the cardinal has additional information about Franziskus' health.

Franziskus ’effort-made bridge construction pontificate means that its influence beyond the Catholic Church. The prayers spoken for the Pontifex come from a wide variety of places; From Al-Azhar in Egypt-who has a close relationship with Francis-to an interreligious service in a Buddhist temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

speculation about the future

But, as Francis himself observed, the winds of a complain begin to blow when a Pope falls ill. At the moment, the Vatican feels like in the run -up to a conclave. Against the background of the increasing interest, this is reinforced in a papal choice, triggered by the popularity of the film "Conclave", which is nominated for several Oscars. The feeling of an upcoming pope election is intensified by the evening prayer services on the square, which is led by different cardinals every day. On Wednesday, Giovanni Battista Re, the Dean of the Cardinal College, which has to monitor the management of a contract, will be the turn.

But you shouldn't write off Francis yet. While the Pope is physically frail, it remains spiritual and psychologically resilient. And since his hospitalization he has shown that he wants to fight.

Elisabetta Pique, a biographer of the Pope and correspondent for "La Nacion" in Argentina, told CNN that her compatriot is a very spiritual person, who is also "determined", "rigid" and is shaped by a deep sense of his mission.

The Argentine Pope was trained as Jesuit, an order that has a long history in mission activity in enemy or dangerous areas. He had worked at a very intensive pace until his hospitalization. Antonio Spadaro, a Jesuit brother and consultant of the Pope, explained that Francis' mentality was "as long as he lives to work and die in the trench."

The signal of hope

From his hospital room, the Pope signals that he continues to have control. On Monday, he met Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the State Secretary, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, the chief office, and announced a consistory (a gathering of Pope and cardinals) on a not yet defined date to decide the beatifications. It happened to be at a consistory in February 2013 when Benedict XVI announced his resignation.

Francis also seems to be aware of the reputation of the Vatican not to be transparent in questions about the health of the Pope. He is the one who publishes the daily information about his state of health relatively detailed and before he received someone from the Vatican to the hospital, he met with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. She, and not the Vatican, then gave the world the update that so many hoped for: the Pope was "vigilant" and jokes. Even in a critical condition, Francis remains politically ingenious.

The longer the Pope stays in the hospital, the more speculation about a possible resignation grows. Francis wrote a letter in 2013 in which he met regulations in the event of his incapacity to act, similar to many of his predecessors, and some wonder whether he will continue to remain pope if the long -term forecast means that he may not be able to direct the Catholic Church.

Francis, a master of the surprise, probably didn't inform anyone about his plans. This is how the world continues to wait, with a term used in Rome for these intensive days, the feeling of so many concise: "Montagne Russian" - a roller coaster.

cnns Ben Wedeman, Fiona Sibbett, Antonia Mortensen and Sharon Braithwaite have contributed to this story.