Pope Francis thanked his followers in a message addressed on Sunday, March 16, in which he describes himself as “fragile”.
Hospitalized since February 14 at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Pope Francis testified to cross “a test time”. In a text Published by the Vatican Sunday, March 16, second Sunday of Lent, he thanks his faithful for their prayers and their “dedication”. The 88 -year -old sovereign pontiff suffers from a double pneumonia. He was initially hospitalized for bronchitis, which had then worsened.
“I share these thoughts with you when I go through a time of test and I join many sick brothers and sisters: fragile, at the moment, like me. Our bodies are weak, but nothing prevents us from loving, praying, giving us, being for each other, in faith, luminous signs of hope,” he wrote.
Up to 150 kilos of letters received per day
Since his hospitalization, the Pope has received “thousands” of loyal letters, sent from around the world, said the Italian post. He receives “up to 150 kilos of letters per day”, according to the head of the postal services, Antonello Chidichimo. “In recent days, the influx of letters and messages addressed to Pope Francis has been particularly intense, a sign of affection and proximity to the international community,” post office in a statement. Football stars like the Brazilian Neymar have notably sent messages of support to the pontiff.
According to the last Vatican bulletin, Pope Francis’s state of health improves slowly. He must still stay in the hospital to continue his therapy, but he is now “stable”, and his vital prognosis is no longer committed. The sovereign pontiff notably follows a “motor and respiratory physiotherapy”. The press service of the religious state recalled that it would take time to the Pope for him to recover, “including in terms of energy and strength”. It still has respiratory assistance.
“The Pope loves you and is still waiting to meet you,” added the pope in the message addressed to his faithful. And to add: “Let us continue to pray for peace, especially in countries injured by war: in martyred Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Burma, Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”