Cardinal Advincula to lead hour of prayer for Pope Francis

Metro Manila, Philippines - Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula invited the Catholic faithful to join a prayer service for the healing of Pope Francis at the Manila Cathedral on Friday, Feb. 21.

The pontiff has been battling double pneumonia, a serious infection that can inflame and scar both lungs and make breathing more difficult, for several days.

Advincula said he will lead the “Holy Hour for the Healing of Pope Francis” at 5 p.m. at the Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Intramuros, Manila, which will coincide with the eve of the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

“Let us storm heaven with our supplications,” Advincula wrote in a circular released on Thursday. “Let us accompany Pope Francis with our loving prayers and entrust him to the Lord’s healing hand as well as his doctors, nurses, and medical professionals.”

The prelate also released the prayer in English and Filipino versions.

Advincula joined appeals of Kalookan Bishop Pablo Cardinal David, the president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, and Archbishop Charles Brown, apostolic nuncio to the Philippines, to pray for the recovery of the 88-year-old pope.

According to the Vatican, Francis is in stable condition. The Holy See said he has shown “slight improvement” from results of his recent blood tests.

The pope was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14.