Vatican announces daily evening prayers for Pope’s health on St. Peter’s Square

Vatican announces night prayers for Pope Francis' health as he battles lung infection, complications; Cardinal Parolin to lead.

The Vatican on Monday (February 24, 2025) announced the start of night time prayers for the health of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square, and invited Romans and others to join in, as the 88-year-old pontiff battled a complex lung infection and complications.

The Vatican No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, is to lead the first prayer on Monday (February 24, 2025) evening. The announcement immediately brought to mind the night time candlelit vigils in the piazza that preceded the 2005 death of St. John Paul II.

Pope Francis, who has double pneumonia and the early stages of kidney insufficiency, was awake and in good spirits Monday. He is not in pain and is not receiving artificial nutrition, the Vatican said.

Also Read | Pope is resting on 10th day of hospitalisation after early stages of kidney insufficiency detected: Vatican

“The night passed well, the pope slept and is resting,” it said. A medical bulletin was expected later in the day.

At the Gemelli hospital, where Pope Francis has been since February 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened, Bishop Claudio GiulioDori presided over an emotional, standing-room-only mass in the chapel named for Pope John Paul; Some of the estimated 200 people who attended were in white doctor’s coats or green surgical scrubs; some knelt in prayer.

“We are very sorry. Pope Francis is a good pope, let’s hope that he makes it. Let us hope," said a choked-up Filomena Ferraro, who was visiting a relative at Gemelli on Monday (February 24, 2025). “We are joining him with our prayers but what else can we do?”