Pope Francis celebrates the mass for the Jubilee of the Armed Forces at St. Peter's square in the Vatican on 9 February 2025. Photo: AFP / Alberto Pizzoli
Diocese of Chalan Kanoa bishop-elect Romeo Convocar and Guam Metropolitan Archbishop of Agaña Ryan Jimenez is asking the islands' Catholic faithful to continue to pray for Pope Francis.
"I would like to ask everyone to pray for the Holy Father. He's sick and elderly, so we need to pray for him and pray for God's will for the universal church," Convocar said, who will be installed and ordained as bishop of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa this Saturday.
"We know that the Lord will always provide a shepherd for His people, for His church."
He added that the Holy Father has been serving the church for a while, and at this point of time where he is weak physically, he needs our prayers.
Earlier, Jimenez asked for continued prayers as Pope Francis continues to suffer from pneumonia.
"We continue to express our love and concern for our shepherd through our fervent prayers. May God guide the hands and minds of Pope Francis' medical team and grant him full recovery from this ordeal." The archbishop thanks everyone for their prayers.
Meanwhile, Holy See Press Office issued the following medical update on Pope Francis' health on Tuesday evening. The Pope is receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.
Pope slept well overnight after two respiratory insufficiencies
"The clinical condition of the Holy Father remained stable today. He did not experience episodes of respiratory failure or bronchospasm.
"The Pope did not run a fever, and he remained alert, cooperative with therapies, and oriented. This morning, he transitioned to high-flow oxygen therapy and underwent respiratory physiotherapy.
"As scheduled, tonight he will resume non-invasive mechanical ventilation until tomorrow morning. The prognosis remains guarded. During the day, he alternated between spending time in prayer and at rest, and this morning he received the Eucharist."
Pope Francis' overall clinical condition remains stable, including heart, kidney, and blood values.
The frequency of bronchospasms is not unexpected in the context of pneumonia like that affecting the Pope. However, his health situation remains complex.
