Pope Francis has now spent a month in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital following his admission on February 14 due to pneumonia, with footballers—including the captain of his favorite team, San Lorenzo—sending messages of encouragement for his recovery.
Despite suffering multiple breathing crises early in his hospitalization, the 88-year-old pontiff was declared out of immediate danger earlier this week. However, the Vatican has yet to indicate when he will be discharged or fully recover.
In a video posted Friday, San Lorenzo captain Iker Muniain extended a heartfelt message to the pope, saying, “Dear Pope Francis, from here, from your home, from your club, from your beloved San Lorenzo, we send you a big hug.” The Argentine pope has long supported the Buenos Aires club, where he watched matches with his father as a child.
Muniain’s message, posted on the Instagram page of “We Play For Peace,” a sports and peace initiative backed by the pope, was among many from the football world. Brazilian star Neymar sent his best wishes, while Croatian Ivan Rakitić and Italian Ciro Ferrara also offered their prayers.
In another gesture of solidarity, organizers of Sunday’s Rome Marathon announced that 30,000 participants would observe 42 seconds of silence—one per kilometer—in honor of the pope.
Pope’s Condition ‘Stable’
According to a statement from the Vatican press office, Pope Francis remained in stable condition Friday after a “quiet night” in his hospital suite, which is reserved for pontiffs. Although no longer in critical condition, he continues to receive respiratory support via a nasal cannula during the day and an oxygen mask at night.
The pontiff joined Vatican prayer and meditation services via video link but has not been seen publicly in recent days. He also underwent physiotherapy as part of his recovery process.
Meanwhile, the Vatican’s diplomatic corps participated in a mass for the pope, led by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also conveyed his wishes for the pope’s speedy recovery in a message posted on X.
As Pope Francis marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy on Thursday with a small cake, speculation is growing over when he will be discharged. However, the Vatican has warned that his extended hospitalization—the longest of his tenure—raises concerns about his ability to continue leading the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics.
“It takes time for an 88-year-old body affected by bilateral pneumonia to recover, also in terms of energy and strength,” the Vatican press office stated. Further medical updates are expected later Friday.
