Presiding over the gathering from the Pope's usual platform, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin acknowledged the global outpouring of prayer and support for the ailing pontiff.
Pope Francis’s recovery from pneumonia continued Tuesday, marked by a "slight improvement" in his condition and a groundswell of support from the faithful.
However, the Vatican said he had resumed work from his hospital room, including reaching out to a parish in war-torn Gaza City – a community he has maintained contact with since the outbreak of the conflict.
“Starting this evening, we want to unite ourselves publicly to this prayer here, in his house,” Parolin said, praying that Francis “in this moment of illness and trial” would recover quickly.
The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed as a young man after suffering pleurisy – an inflammation of the membranes that surround the lungs and line the chest cavity.
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