CBCP to public: Continue praying for Pope Francis

(FILES) Pope Francis drinks water during a meeting with Indonesian authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on September 4, 2024, during his apostolic visit to Asia. The Vatican on February 18, 2025 cancelled two of Pope Francis's events at the weekend as the 88-year-old continues to receive hospital treatment for bronchitis. (Photo by WILLY KURNIAWAN / POOL / AFP)

THE influential Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) had issued an appeal to every Filipino to continue praying for the recovery of Pope Francis who is said to remain in critical condition at Rome’s Gemelli hospital where he has been confined since February 14.

“Let us continue to pray for Pope Francis. [prayer emoji],” the CBCP said in their social media account.

Likewise, the CBCP shared updates on the Pope’s health, as issued by the Holy See Press Office.

Vatican had issued a statement on February 22, as they said: “The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical. Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen.

It also said that the blood tests also revealed thrombocytopenia, which is associated with anemia.

This requires the administration of blood transfusions.

Vatican also said that the Holy Father remains alert and spends the day in an armchair.