Catholics gathered in the Chicago region at the Cathedral of the Holy Name on Sunday to pray for the health of Pope Francis, who remained in critical condition with double pneumonia.
“I pray to God to wander. Times,” said Rose Williams, who attended the morning mass.
The 88 -year -old Pope, who suffers from a chronic lung disease and is vulnerable to respiratory diseases in the winter, was accepted at Jimili Hospital on February 14 after a poor -circuit of bronchitis. The Vatican said that he suffered a long respiratory crisis of asthma while treating pneumonia and complex lung infections.
Blood tests show signs of early kidney failure, but they are still alert and “directed at good”, according to the Vatican. He also participated in a mass with “those who take care of him during these days from the hospital.”
On Sunday, Chicago Catholics praised his courage to speak against injustice and his willingness to challenge traditional views in the Catholic Church.
“He has led a lot of words, but his example is unusual,” said Reverend Luis Kamili, a priest with the Chicago diocese who met Pope Francis.
Kamili referred to the Pope's 2013 visit to Lampedosa, an island in southern Italy, to meet and pray for refugees and migrants as an example. The Pope used his visit to the island – a crossing point for many African refugees – to highlight the ordeal of migrants and asylum seekers fleeing war, persecution and poverty, a subject often considered during Pontvicat.
Kamili said: “He pretended to be truly concerned about the people who are on the brink of the abyss and make us all, as I think, to take another look at how we deal with people on the margin,” Kamili said.
For some, the most advanced procedures for the Pope were welcoming. Ivan St. John, who lives in the Ukrainian village neighborhood and came to the Holy name of prayer, loves how Pope Francis was more welcome to the LGBTQ residents and had more lenient positions on divorce compared to his predecessors.
Saint John said: “I think the Catholic Church needs to move forward over time.” “So I think it was great in this sense, especially if you compare it with his predecessor, that it was a breath of fresh air.”
Theresa Armigo, who was visiting Chicago from New Mexico, has expressed a similar feeling.
Armigo said: “He really believes in the poor, and he practices it, loves the church and loves its people.” She also expressed her admiration for the origins of the Argentine Pope.
“I like to be from South America, because we have a lot of people … from South America that was not represented because we have always had the Italian match, so I like to shake it a little,” said Armigo.
Others were not enthusiastic about the Pope's record. Anna Lega, who stood outside the sacred name to raise awareness of the Church of Saint Adalbert Catholic Catholic Catholic in Pilsen, wished the Pope to adopt a more traditional church.
“I think it was very confusing for a lot of Catholics,” said Lega.
Despite these comments, Lega is still praying for the Pope. “He is old and has all kinds of health problems, so at this stage, I was praying for a good pass and that he received him in heaven,” Lega said.
The Associated Press contributed.
Originally published: Feb 23 2025 at 2:55 pm CST
