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Flying balloons in the Vatican colors of yellow and white, dozens of children gathered on Sunday in the square of the Policlinico A. Gemelli, where Pope Francis has been hospitalized for more than four weeks, and chanted \u201cPapa Francesco\u201d and cheered, \u201cViva la Pace\u201d \u2014 hurray for peace.<\/p>\n
Many held up signs, hoping that the pope might peek out of the windows of his 10th-floor hospital suite to see their art. They offered encouragement, wishing that the pope get well soon. One boy with a boisterous group of blue-and-yellow capped \u201ccastorini,\u201d or beavers, as children too young to be Cub Scouts are known in Italy, held a sign that said \u201cCiao Papa Cesco, I love you a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
The pope did not appear, but he acknowledged the children’s presence in his traditional Sunday blessing and prayer.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that many children are praying for me; some of them came here today to Gemelli as a sign of closeness,\u2019\u2019 the pontiff said in offering his traditional Sunday blessing, which was not delivered live for the fifth time. \u201cThank you, dearest children! The pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you,\u2019\u2019 Francis wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Rev. Enzo Fortunato, the president of the pontifical committee for World Children\u2019s Day, who organized the gathering, said \u201cchildren transmit joy\u201d and their presence in the square was a \u201csymbolic medicine for Pope Francis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The posters and letters will be saved and waiting for the pope when he returns to the Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where the pontiff lives, Father Fortunato said, adding he was certain that the pope would personally respond to the messages when he\u2019s able to.<\/p>\n
Francis was admitted to the Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 with respiratory infections and bronchitis that developed into pneumonia in both lungs. He suffered several setbacks, including mild kidney failure and a few respiratory crises. He was in critical condition until last Monday, when doctors said he was no longer in imminent danger of dying from pneumonia.<\/p>\n
Even so, his condition remains complex because of his age \u2014 88 \u2014 as well as his pre-existing lung disease. In 1957, Francis had part of his right lung removed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
His condition has been stable for the past week. The Vatican said Saturday that Francis still required \u201cinpatient medical therapy, motor and respiratory physiotherapy,\u201d treatments that \u201cshow further, gradual improvements.\u201d The Vatican also said doctors were gradually reducing the need for noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night, substituting it with high-flow oxygen therapy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
In Sunday\u2019s written address, Francis acknowledged his frailty.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me,\u201d he said. \u201cOur bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his teachings and messages, Francis has often had special words for children struggling because of war, famine, migration or poverty. In 2024 he celebrated the first World Children\u2019s Day<\/a>, which brought thousands of children to the Vatican. Last month<\/a>, shortly before he was admitted to the hospital, he announced he would write an apostolic document dedicated to children.<\/p>\n \u201cWe think that the voice of children is the first voice to arrive to the heart of God, and they are praying for his recovery,\u201d said Sister Mariella D\u2019Ippolito, the national secretary of an organization of Roman Catholic schools, who came with some local children.<\/p>\n