Pope Francis has reiterated his call for peace across the world, asking people to pray for him amid swirling rumors about his declining health.
The Pontiff today addressed believers gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for an Easter Monday address.
The 87-year-old ailing leader of the Catholic Church said: “May the peace of Christ come also where it is most needed, to people torn by war, by hunger, by all forms of violence. ‘oppression. »
It comes a day after he explicitly called for an end to the brutal war between Israel and Hamas, after withdrawing from a Good Friday procession in Rome due to health reasons.
Francis, who arrived in a wheelchair, told the faithful gathered for Mass at 10 a.m. yesterday: “I call once again for access to humanitarian aid to be ensured in Gaza, and I call once again for the rapid release of the hostages captured on October 7 and for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
The Pontiff today addressed believers gathered in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican for an Easter Monday address.
The 87-year-old head of the Catholic Church said: “May the peace of Christ come also where it is most needed, to people torn by war, by hunger, by all forms of oppression “.
This comes a day after he explicitly called for an end to the brutal war between Israel and Hamas.
Additionally, he called for a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine, as the war between the two countries enters its third year.
“By calling for respect for the principles of international law, I express my hope for a general exchange of all prisoners between Russia and Ukraine,” he declared before tens of thousands of Catholics gathered in Saint -Rock.
Today he asked those gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for him.
He said, “Please don’t forget to pray for me. »
He added lightly: “Have a nice lunch and see you next time.” »
The request comes after the Vatican said the pope would not join the procession, which is a re-enactment of Jesus’ death by crucifixion, in order to “preserve his health.”
In a brief statement Friday, the Vatican said that “to preserve his health before tomorrow’s vigil and Easter Sunday Mass, Pope Francis will this evening follow the Stations of the Cross to the Colosseum from the Santa Marta Residence,” where he will lives.
Today, he asked those gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for him, although he did not specify why.
The request comes after the Vatican said the pope would not join the procession, which is a re-enactment of Jesus’ death by crucifixion, in order to “preserve his health.”
The last-minute decision raised questions about how long Francis can continue to lead the Catholic Church.
A Vatican source said Friday that there were “no particular concerns” about his health and that the decision to withdraw had been “simply a precautionary measure.”
The Argentine Jesuit had also canceled his participation in the “Via Crucis” in 2023, but this followed a three-day hospitalization for bronchitis, and this had been announced well in advance. A few weeks later, he underwent hernia surgery.
Until Friday, the pope had attended his various engagements throughout the week, but he recently appeared tired and sometimes delegated speaking roles to colleagues.
Francis, who never takes a vacation, made his last trip in September, to Marseille, in the south of France. In December, he canceled a highly anticipated participation in the COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
His next trip is planned to Venice on April 28. The Vatican has not yet confirmed a planned trip to countries in Asia and the Pacific Ocean for this summer.
Francis has previously left the door open to resigning if he can no longer do his job. This would follow the example of his immediate predecessor, Benedict XVI, who in 2013 became the first pope since the Middle Ages to step down voluntarily.
But in a memoir published this month, Francis wrote that he had “no reason sufficiently serious to make me think about resigning.”