Pope Francis Continues Absence from Public Appearances Amid Health Concerns

For the third consecutive week, Pope Francis has been absent from St. Peter's Square, continuing his recovery at Rome's Gemelli hospital while the Vatican shares his written messages with the public.

For the third week in a row, Pope Francis has missed delivering his traditional Angelus prayer in person, opting to send written comments from his hospital room in Rome. The Vatican confirmed the text was composed "in the past few days," where the Pope expressed his gratitude towards the public's prayers and his medical team. “I feel in my heart the ‘blessing’ that is hidden within frailty, because it is precisely in these moments that we learn even more to trust in the Lord,” he wrote.

In his message, the Pope extended his thanks for the support he feels from Catholics worldwide, saying he feels "carried" and sustained by "all God's people." The Vatican provided an optimistic update regarding his health, indicating that he spent a "peaceful" night resting and attended to his meals and therapy routine. Notably, on Sunday, he had his first visitors since last Monday, receiving Cardinal Parolin and Monsignor Pena Parra in his hospital room. However, details about their conversation and the duration of the visit were not disclosed.

Despite suffering a second breathing crisis on Friday, resulting in extra oxygen support, the Vatican stated his condition has become stable, with no fever or further respiratory issues reported. Pope Francis remained alert and continued to engage with his usual activities like reading newspapers.

During the written Angelus, the Pope prayed for peace throughout the world, specifically mentioning the conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, and Israel, stating, “From here, war appears even more absurd.” Typically, crowds gather in St. Peter’s Square on Sundays to witness the Pope's appearance, but this continues to be affected by his ongoing recovery, as he maintains residence at the Vatican's Santa Marta guest house rather than the Papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace.