Pope Francis will miss the Angelus prayer for the second consecutive Sunday as he continues to receive treatment for pneumonia, the Vatican announced on Saturday.
The 88-year-old pontiff, who was hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with bronchitis, saw his condition worsen into pneumonia in both lungs, raising widespread concern about his health.
While the Angelus prayer text will be published, it will not be read out, as was the case last weekend, the Vatican press office confirmed.
Despite assurances from his doctors on Friday that there is no immediate risk to his life, they acknowledged that he is “not out of danger”. The Vatican’s latest update on Saturday morning stated simply: “Pope Francis rested well.”
The Pope’s prolonged absence from public duties has intensified concerns over his health, especially given his recent medical history and the demands of his role as leader of the Catholic Church.
