Portuguese join Catholic cardinals in prayer for Pope's health

Portuguese Lisete Lagoa plans to be in St. Peter's Square, Rome, today to join the prayers of the cardinals residing in the Italian capital for the health of the Pope, who is hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia.

Among international pilgrims in Rome, information that the cardinals residing in the Curia will join together today in praying the Rosary spread quickly, the pilgrim told Lusa.

“We will all be there, praying for the Pope”, said Lisete Lagoa, referring to the group of 22 pilgrims who came from the Diocese of Vila Real to the capital of the Catholic faith.

The cardinals residing in the city, “with all the collaborators of the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome, gathering the sentiments of the people of God, will gather in St. Peter's Square at 9:00 p.m. for the recitation of the Holy Rosary for the health of the Holy Father,” the Vatican said.

The prayer will be presided over by the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Father João Costa is the guide for a group already accustomed to this type of pilgrimage, many of them on foot. Wearing sandals, indifferent to the rain and cold, he listened to the historical explanation of the Church of Santo António dos Portugueses, an 18th century space, a historic destination for Portuguese pilgrims seeking Rome.

For the priest, Francis is the “image of the good shepherd that the Church needed”, promoting an “openness to all people, wherever they come from”.

With him, “all people feel welcomed” and “they do not exist inside or outside the Church, because everything is Church”, he explained.

Lisete Lagoa added: “His openness has been wonderful, with this Pope, there are no taboo subjects, such as homosexuality.”

For the first time in Rome, a city she saw “cleaner and more organized than she expected”, the 43-year-old businesswoman considered that the Church needs symbols like Francis.

Manuel Correia is part of the group and said that everyone's prayers have been with Francisco.

“The Pope has been a very, very important man” and “it is a great shame that the epilogue of his death has come to fruition,” he said.

The group had planned a papal audience on Wednesday, something that will not happen due to Francis' health.

“If the Pope survives, that will be a lesser evil,” because “what is important is that she resists the disease well,” added Manuel Correia.

After today's prayer, the group leaves for Assisi, to continue the pilgrimage, which is partly done on foot.

"Walking is also a form of praying", summarized João Costa.

This night was calmer for Francis, according to the press service. "He spent the night well, slept and is resting," the Vatican said in a brief statement.

The Vatican said on Sunday that the pope remained in critical condition at Rome's Gemelli hospital and that blood tests indicated mild kidney failure but that it was under control.

The 88-year-old Pope was hospitalized on February 14 following pneumonia in both lungs and had a respiratory crisis on Friday, worsening his health.

Portuguese Lisete Lagoa plans to be in St. Peter's Square, Rome, today to join the prayers of the cardinals residing in the Italian capital for the health of the Pope, who is hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia.

Among international pilgrims in Rome, information that the cardinals residing in the Curia will join together today in praying the Rosary spread quickly, the pilgrim told Lusa.

“We will all be there, praying for the Pope”, said Lisete Lagoa, referring to the group of 22 pilgrims who came from the Diocese of Vila Real to the capital of the Catholic faith.

The cardinals residing in the city, “with all the collaborators of the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome, gathering the sentiments of the people of God, will gather in St. Peter's Square at 9:00 p.m. for the recitation of the Holy Rosary for the health of the Holy Father,” the Vatican said.

The prayer will be presided over by the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Father João Costa is the guide for a group already accustomed to this type of pilgrimage, many of them on foot. Wearing sandals, indifferent to the rain and cold, he listened to the historical explanation of the Church of Santo António dos Portugueses, an 18th century space, a historic destination for Portuguese pilgrims seeking Rome.

For the priest, Francis is the “image of the good shepherd that the Church needed”, promoting an “openness to all people, wherever they come from”.

With him, “all people feel welcomed” and “they do not exist inside or outside the Church, because everything is Church”, he explained.

Lisete Lagoa added: “His openness has been wonderful, with this Pope, there are no taboo subjects, such as homosexuality.”

For the first time in Rome, a city she saw “cleaner and more organized than she expected”, the 43-year-old businesswoman considered that the Church needs symbols like Francis.

Manuel Correia is part of the group and said that everyone's prayers have been with Francisco.

“The Pope has been a very, very important man” and “it is a great shame that the epilogue of his death has come to fruition,” he said.

The group had planned a papal audience on Wednesday, something that will not happen due to Francis' health.

“If the Pope survives, that will be a lesser evil,” because “what is important is that she resists the disease well,” added Manuel Correia.

After today's prayer, the group leaves for Assisi, to continue the pilgrimage, which is partly done on foot.

"Walking is also a form of praying", summarized João Costa.

This night was calmer for Francis, according to the press service. "He spent the night well, slept and is resting," the Vatican said in a brief statement.

The Vatican said on Sunday that the pope remained in critical condition at Rome's Gemelli hospital and that blood tests indicated mild kidney failure but that it was under control.

The 88-year-old Pope was hospitalized on February 14 following pneumonia in both lungs and had a respiratory crisis on Friday, worsening his health.

Portuguese Lisete Lagoa plans to be in St. Peter's Square, Rome, today to join the prayers of the cardinals residing in the Italian capital for the health of the Pope, who is hospitalized in critical condition with pneumonia.

Among international pilgrims in Rome, information that the cardinals residing in the Curia will join together today in praying the Rosary spread quickly, the pilgrim told Lusa.

“We will all be there, praying for the Pope”, said Lisete Lagoa, referring to the group of 22 pilgrims who came from the Diocese of Vila Real to the capital of the Catholic faith.

The cardinals residing in the city, “with all the collaborators of the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome, gathering the sentiments of the people of God, will gather in St. Peter's Square at 9:00 p.m. for the recitation of the Holy Rosary for the health of the Holy Father,” the Vatican said.

The prayer will be presided over by the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin.

Father João Costa is the guide for a group already accustomed to this type of pilgrimage, many of them on foot. Wearing sandals, indifferent to the rain and cold, he listened to the historical explanation of the Church of Santo António dos Portugueses, an 18th century space, a historic destination for Portuguese pilgrims seeking Rome.

For the priest, Francis is the “image of the good shepherd that the Church needed”, promoting an “openness to all people, wherever they come from”.

With him, “all people feel welcomed” and “they do not exist inside or outside the Church, because everything is Church”, he explained.

Lisete Lagoa added: “His openness has been wonderful, with this Pope, there are no taboo subjects, such as homosexuality.”

For the first time in Rome, a city she saw “cleaner and more organized than she expected”, the 43-year-old businesswoman considered that the Church needs symbols like Francis.

Manuel Correia is part of the group and said that everyone's prayers have been with Francisco.

“The Pope has been a very, very important man” and “it is a great shame that the epilogue of his death has come to fruition,” he said.

The group had planned a papal audience on Wednesday, something that will not happen due to Francis' health.

“If the Pope survives, that will be a lesser evil,” because “what is important is that she resists the disease well,” added Manuel Correia.

After today's prayer, the group leaves for Assisi, to continue the pilgrimage, which is partly done on foot.

"Walking is also a form of praying", summarized João Costa.

This night was calmer for Francis, according to the press service. "He spent the night well, slept and is resting," the Vatican said in a brief statement.

The Vatican said on Sunday that the pope remained in critical condition at Rome's Gemelli hospital and that blood tests indicated mild kidney failure but that it was under control.

The 88-year-old Pope was hospitalized on February 14 following pneumonia in both lungs and had a respiratory crisis on Friday, worsening his health.