Philippines prays for Francis’ health

MANILA, Philippines — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines is seeking continuous prayers for the 88-year-old Pope Francis, whose health continues to be “critical.”

In its official Facebook page, the CBCP posted a one-line request: “Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis.”

It attached a health update released by the Holy See Press Office which said, “The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical. Therefore, as explained yesterday, the pope is not out of danger.”

On Saturday morning, Francis reportedly experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen.

His blood tests also reportedly showed thrombocytopenia, associated with anemia, that required the administration of blood transfusions.

“The Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more uncomfortable than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded,” the Vatican said.

Several church leaders have been asking for prayers for the pope, who has been confined at the Gemelli Hospital in Rome since Feb. 14 because of a respiratory infection, which was later confirmed to be double pneumonia.

Last Feb. 19, CBCP president Kalookan Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David solicited prayers for the pontiff.

On Feb. 20, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led a eucharistic vigil for Pope Francis’ healing at the San Carlos Seminary College’s Martyrs of Lisieux Chapel in Cebu City.

The next day, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula led a prayer service for the health of Pope Francis.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has been pope since 2013 and has suffered bouts of ill health in the past two years. He is particularly prone to lung infections because as a young adult he developed pleurisy – a condition where the layers of tissue between the lungs and chest wall become inflamed – and had part of one lung removed.