BUENOS AIRES: Individuals throughout Latin America prayed for Pope Francis, the primary chief of the Catholic Church to return from the area, because the Vatican reported on Saturday (Feb 22) the Argentina-born pontiff was in critical condition in a Rome hospital.
Catholics from Mexico to Argentina and the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts attended lots, lighted candles and mentioned prayers individually for the pope’s restoration. Francis was admitted to hospital on Feb 14.
“We … pray for him with belief in God and pray for his well being with pleasure,” mentioned Argentine priest Adrian Bennardins. He praised Francis for making the worldwide Catholic Church “nearer, easy, fraternal, with out leaving anybody out”.
About 54 per cent of Latin Individuals recognized as Catholic in a 2024 survey by Latinobarometro that interviewed folks in 18 nations, down from 80 per cent in 1995.
Among the many devoted, folks mentioned they felt kinship with Francis, who turned Pope in 2013, due to cultural affinity.
“Since he’s a Latino, he speaks our language and he shares the emotions of the Latino group as a result of we come from the same tradition,” mentioned Grisel Jimenez, who was attending mass on the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico Metropolis.
Francis started his profession as a Jesuit priest in Argentina and later served as archbishop of Buenos Aires and a cardinal.
In Buenos Aires, an image of the pope with the phrase “the town prays for you” was being projected on the town’s famed Obelisk at nighttime from Friday to Monday.
Argentina issued a nationwide name earlier within the week to all “villas” and “barrios” – poor neighbourhoods and cities – to hope for the Pope.
Gabriel Indihar, 50, heeded the decision, believing within the energy of collective prayer.
“When the group prays collectively, it has larger attain to God so he could make these miraculous transformations,” Indihar mentioned. “That’s the request we make for the pope.”
In neighbouring Brazil, the most important Catholic nation on the earth, folks additionally joined prayers.
“As a Catholic, it isn’t nearly worshipping Christ, but in addition praying for the pope, praying for our church and praying for the world,” mentioned Helio Martins Da Silva, a churchgoer in Sao Paulo.
