Chinese Catholics fast and pray for Pope Francis' recovery

The Catholic communities throughout Asia are close to the pontiff, hospitalised at the Gemelli Polyclinic. He has been diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, which has required a change in treatment. In the Philippines, the Rappler website has invited readers to share their prayers for Francis in a chat room.

Milan (AsiaNews) - Fasting and prayer for the health of Pope Francis: even Chinese Catholics are currently rallying around the pontiff, who is hospitalised at the Gemelli Polyclinic for bilateral pneumonia.

The website xinde.org, a point of reference for the mainland Chinese community, is currently publishing updates from the Holy See on Francis' health. A message has been added to the news from Rome today: ‘We invite everyone to pray for the Pope in the form of the Eucharist, the Rosary and the Chaplet of Mercy. We stand by the Pope in this moment of difficulty with fasting and praying to the Lord for his speedy recovery’.

Similar sentiments are shared by Catholic communities throughout Asia. Also in the Philippines, the president of the Episcopal Conference, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan, wrote to the faithful asking about the Pope's health problems and asking for ‘your prayers for his healing and recovery at this difficult time’.

The apostolic nuncio in Manila, Monsignor Charles Brown, wrote: ‘Let us pray with faith for our beloved Pope Francis, that he may recover quickly, and let us also pray for all the doctors and nurses who are taking care of him’. Also in the Philippines, the Rappler website, in its chat room dedicated to religious topics, invited readers to share their prayers for Lolo Kiko, as the pontiff is affectionately called in the archipelago where Catholics are the vast majority of the population.

In the latest update last night, the Holy See announced that the laboratory tests, chest X-ray and the pope's clinical condition continue to present a complex picture. ‘The polymicrobial infection, which arose from bronchiectasis and asthmatic bronchitis, and which required the use of cortisone and antibiotic therapy, makes the therapeutic treatment more complex. The follow-up chest CT scan showed the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required further drug therapy. Nevertheless, Pope Francis is in a good mood.

During his hospitalisation - which is expected to be prolonged - the pontiff receives the Eucharist and, during the day, ‘alternates rest with prayer and reading. He is grateful for the closeness he feels at this moment and asks, with gratitude, that prayers continue for him’.

(with the collaboration of Santosh Digal)