Cardinal Tagle leads rosary prayer for Pope Francis in the Vatican

Metro Manila, Philippines - Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led a rosary prayer for Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square at the Vatican on Wednesday, Feb. 26, as the condition of the Catholic leader remains critical.

Tagle, pro-prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Evangelization, presided over the service which began on Monday.

The rosary prayer for the Pope’s healing is scheduled daily this week.

During the service, Tagle asked that the Catholic leader would feel the “solidarity and closeness of the Christian community.”

Last week, Manila Archbishop Cardinal Jose Advincula led a prayer service at the Manila Cathedral for the Pope’s recovery.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier urged Filipino faithfuls to pray for the Catholic leader.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Holy See Press Office said Pope Francis’ health remains critical but stable, noting that he has not experienced any acute respiratory episodes.

“In the evening, he underwent a scheduled CT scan to radiologically monitor the bilateral pneumonia. The prognosis remains cautious,” an update published by the Vatican News said.

The 88-year-old Pontiff has been hospitalized since Feb. 14 to get treatment for double pneumonia.