PH cardinals rally Catholics to pray for Pope Francis’ recovery

A statue of Pope John Paul II is seen in front of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic, Rome, where the Pontiff is hospitalized since Feb 14. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Leaders of the Catholic Church are asking the Filipino faithful to pray for the speedy recovery of Pope Francis, who is in a Rome hospital since last week for pneumonia.

Cardinals Jose Advincula and Pablo Virgilio David are leading vigil prayers in the Archdiocese of Manila and Diocese of Kalookan, respectively.

“May I ask for your prayers for his healing and recovery during this challenging time,” said David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“Let us storm heaven with our supplications. Let us accompany Pope Francis with our loving prayers and entrust him to the Lord’s healing hand as well as his doctors, nurses and medical professionals,” Advincula said in a circular on Thursday.

According to an update from the Vatican, the 88-year-old pope was in “stationary” condition following his double pneumonia diagnosis. (See related story in World)