"As our Holy Father Pope Francis is in very, very fragile health, and probably close to death," Dolan said at St. Patrick's Cathedral, without saying if he had independent information about the pope's condition.
Meanwhile in Francis' native Argentina, Catholics prayed for the pope at the Buenos Aires cathedral and the city's iconic obelisk was lit up "Francis, the city prays for you.".
As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope's medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope's condition.
Pope Francis remains in critical condition with blood tests showing early kidney failure, the Vatican has said.
The organiser of the Holy Year, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, celebrated the Mass in his place and offered a special prayer for Francis from the altar before delivering the homily the pope had prepared.
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