Argentines pray for Pope Francis' health at Buenos Aires cathedral Mass

Catholic leaders called upon the faithful to pray for Pope Francis in Italy and his native Argentina on Wednesday, after the 88-year-old pontiff was diagnosed with pneumonia the previous day.

From Buenos Aires to Mexico City, Latin Americans expressed closeness to the Argentine pope as he battles double pneumonia for the second week in a hospital room in Rome.

In Latin America, Francis remains well-liked, though favorability has dropped, particularly in Argentina, where it fell from 98% in 2013 to 74% in 2024. Despite declines, he continues to be viewed as a transformative figure.

Pope Francis remained at the Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday night in Rome still requiring supplemental oxygen. At 88, Francis has lived for decades with only part of his lungs after a respiratory infection prompted surgery in Argentina.

Valentina Fernandez poses for a picture holding an image of Pope Francis after a Mass to pray for his health at Constitution Square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Feb. 24,

Francis is continuing his therapy for bronchitis and pneumonia, but the Vatican provided no indication of when he might be released from the hospital.

Pope Francis is resting well as he battles double pneumonia, the Vatican said on Wednesday, with an official adding that he is continuing to eat normally and is able to move around his hospital room.

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Doctors say the pope's health situation is complicated because he had part of his lung removed in his 20s. Currently, his medical team is managing a number of issues.

including Argentina, where the pope was born and served as an archbishop before his ascension to the papacy. “May our prayer be the breath of air that Pope Francis' lungs need," said the ...