Flying balloons in the Vatican colors yellow -white, dozens of children gathered on Sunday at Policlinico A. Gemelli Square, where Pope Francis hospitalized for more than four weeks, and sang “Pope Francesco” and cheered, “Viva La Pate” – did peace.
Many kept the inscriptions, hoping that the Pope could peek through the windows of his hospital apartment on the 10th floor to see their art. They offered encouragement, wanting the Pope to become well soon. One boy with a tumultuous group of blue-yellow “Castorini” or Beavers, because the children were too young to be scouts in Italy, and held a sign that said “Ciao Pope Cesco, I love you a lot.”
The Pope did not appear, but he acknowledged the presence of children in his traditional Sunday blessing and prayer.
“I know many children pray for me; Some of them came here today in Gemelli as a sign of closeness, “” PontiF said in offer his traditional Sunday blessing, which has not been delivered to the fifth time. “Thanks, your favorite children! The Pope loves you and is always waiting for you to meet you, “Francis wrote.
The Reverend Enzo Fortunato, Chairman of the Pontifical Committee for World Children’s Day, who organized a gathering, said “children are transmitting joy”, and their presence in the square was “Symbolic Medicine for Pope Francis.”
The crying and letters will be saved and wait for the Pope when he returns to Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican where the Pope lives, said Father Fortunato, adding that he is sure that the Pope will personally respond to messages when he can.
Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14 with respiratory infections and bronchitis that developed in both lungs into pneumonia. He suffered several failures, including mild kidney failure and several respiratory crises. He was in a critical state until last Monday, when doctors said he was no longer in the immediate danger of die of pneumonia.
Nevertheless, his condition remains complex because of his age-88-like and his already existing lung diseases. In 1957, Francis removed part of his right lung.
His condition is stable last week. On Saturday, the Vatican said that Francis was still demanding “hospital medical therapy, motor and respiratory physiotherapy”, treatments that “show further, gradual improvements.” The Vatican also said that doctors gradually reduce the need for non -invasive mechanical ventilation at night, replacing it with high flow oxygen therapy.
In Sunday’s written address, Francis acknowledged his fragility.
“I am facing a trial period and I join so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at the time, like me,” he said. “Our bodies are weak, but even like this, nothing can prevent us from love, we pray, give ourselves, be for each other, in faith, great signs of hope.”
In his teachings and messages, Francis often had special words for children struggling for war, hunger, migration or poverty. 2024 celebrated The day of children from the first worldwhich brought thousands of children to the Vatican. Last monthShortly before he was admitted to the hospital, he announced that he would write an apostolic document dedicated to children.
“We think that the voice of children is the first voice to arrive in the heart of God, and they pray for his recovery,” said Sister Mariella d’Oppolito, a national secretary of the Roman Catholic school organization, who came with some local children.
Some 50 children from Caivano, impoverished city He woke up at dawn on the periphery of Naples to be in Gemelli.
“The Pope is a pope of peace for them, he is their hero in the modern world where the heroes are in the absence,” said Andrea Iacomini, a spokeswoman for UNICEf Italy, who followed them.
Despite the moments of drama and some tears, mostly flying balloons involved, the kids seemed to have fun.
“The prayer of children and their affection for the pope is great strength,” said Marco Impagliazzo, president of the St. Egidio, a charity organization based in Rome, which brought about 15 children in Gemelli from some of the brightest suburbs in Rome. “They hope to see him again as soon as we do it,” he said.
