Pope from hospital bed dennounces three years of war in Ukraine, 'a shame for humanity’

While the world is concerned for his health after yesterday's respiratory crisis, in a text released for the Angelus, Francis invites us to remember the victims of all conflicts and to pray for peace. The pontiff thanks the people around the world who are close to him.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - While the whole world is watching his health, Pope Francis continues to invite prayers for peace from his hospitalbed at the Gemelli Polyclinic.

In the text prepared for the Angelus – which he was once again unable to read but which was released at midday by the Vatican Press Office – the pontiff recalled the three years since the beginning of the war in Ukraine and the other conflicts that are causing bloodshed in the world.

‘Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the large-scale war against Ukraine: a painful and shameful anniversary for all of humanity. As I renew my closeness to the long-suffering Ukrainian people, I invite you to remember the victims of all armed conflicts and to pray for the gift of peace in Palestine, Israel and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu and in Sudan’.

After yesterday's update on the seriousness of the bilateral pneumonia for which Francis has been hospitalised for ten days now, this morning the Vatican announced that the pontiff had spent a quiet night. ‘The Holy Father's condition - read the latest bulletin on his health, released last night - continues to be critical, the Pope is not out of danger’.

In particular, yesterday morning the pontiff had ‘a prolonged asthmatic-like respiratory crisis, which also required the administration of high-flow oxygen’.

In addition, ‘blood tests also showed thrombocytopenia, associated with anaemia, which required the administration of blood transfusions’.

‘The Holy Father - concluded the note from the Vatican Press Office - continues to be vigilant and has spent the day in his armchair, although he is suffering more. At the moment the prognosis is reserved‘.

‘I continue my hospitalisation at the Gemelli Polyclinic with confidence, carrying out the necessary treatments; and rest is also part of the therapy’, wrote Francis in the text prepared for the Angelus. The pontiff also thanked the medical staff at Gemelli hospital ‘for the attention they are showing me and for the dedication with which they carry out their service among sick people’.

‘In these days - he added - I have received many messages of affection and I was particularly touched by the letters and drawings from children. Thank you for this closeness and for the comforting prayers I have received from all over the world’.

Before the Angelus, however, Pope Francis had already made his teaching heard that morning, through the homily he read during the Jubilee Mass for deacons, presided over in St Peter's Basilica in his name by Mons. Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.

Francis emphasised the dimension of forgiveness in their ministry, which deacons are called to bring to the peripheries of the world, seeing that even those who make mistakes and cause suffering are our brothers and sisters.

‘A world where there is only hatred for our adversaries,’ warned Francis, “is a world without hope, without a future, destined to be torn apart by wars, divisions and endless revenge, as we unfortunately see even today, on many levels and in various parts of the world. Forgiving means preparing a welcoming, safe home for the future, in us and in our communities”.

He then emphasised the other two essential dimensions of this ministry: selfless service and communion. ‘In a little while - he concluded his homily referring to the celebration in St Peter's - some of you, receiving the sacrament of Holy Orders, will “descend” the steps of the ministry. I deliberately say and emphasise that they will ‘descend’, and not that they will ‘ascend’, because Ordination is not about ascending, but descending, making oneself small, lowering oneself and stripping oneself. To use the words of St Paul, in service one abandons the ‘man of the earth’, and is clothed, in charity, with the ‘man of heaven’ (cf. 1Cor 15,45-49)’.

Photo: the prayer for the health of Pope Francis in Manila Cathedral (photo from the Licas website)