Skip to content

Cardinal Koch: ‘Suffering of illness’ a great challenge for aging Pope Francis

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, reflected Tuesday on the great challenge of illness and suffering for Pope Francis as he approaches a month's hospital stay amid a series of health crises.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, reflected Tuesday on the great challenge of illness and suffering for Pope Francis as he approaches a month’s hospital stay amid a series of health crises.

Before leading Tuesday evening’s recitation of rosary, held inside the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall, Koch drew parallels in the lives of Pope Francis and St. Peter.

“Truly, truly, I say to you when you were young, you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go,” Koch said, citing Jn 21:18.   

Commenting on the Gospel account when the resurrected Jesus asked Peter, the first pope, to follow him until the end, Koch asked: “How can we not recognize in these words, [is] in fact, what our Holy Father — the successor of Peter — is also experiencing and struggling with?”

“Of course the situations are different, but also the suffering of a serious illness is a great challenge,” he said, before starting Tuesday’s contemplation of the Rosary’s sorrowful mysteries.  

Since Feb. 24, a cardinal has presided over the daily recitation of the Rosary for the pope’s health. Hundreds of local Catholic faithful and jubilee pilgrims from around the world have come to St. Peter’s Square to join the evening prayers open to the public.

“We ask for the intercession of Mary, the mother of hope, for the health of Pope Francis,” Koch prayed.

The 88-year-old pontiff has undergone various medical therapies to treat bronchitis, bilateral pneumonia, as well as mild kidney problems, since being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital almost one month ago on Feb. 14.

Over the weeks, several Catholic faithful from Rome and abroad have also gathered outside Gemelli Hospital to pray for the Holy Father and have left behind written notes with well wishes, candles, and flowers before the St. John Paul II statue outside the facility.

Wednesday evening’s Rosary at the Vatican was held at 6 p.m. local time and led by Cardinal ​​George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

This article was originally published on Catholic News Agency.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Pope Francis celebrates ‘the birthday of the priesthood’ with 1,800 priests on Holy Thursday

On Holy Thursday, Pope Francis presided over a Chrism Mass at which more than 1,880 priests, bishops, and

Vatican News: Pope Francis donates relics True Cross for Coronation King Charles III & Yemen War

Pope Francis requested prayers for Yemen in this week's Vaticano Updates, as there may be some hope on the horizon. Other news includes Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan's visit to Beijing, the donation of True Cross relics to the Church of England, India becoming the world's most populous nation, and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia's expressed support for legalized medically assisted suicide.

Catholic priest from Ukraine gives Pope Francis cross made out of war rubble

Father Vyacheslav Grynevych vividly remembers the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine one year ago.

The History of the Synod

From the "Council of Jerusalem" to the Synod on Synodality

Evangelization needs ‘unreserved openness’ to others, cardinal says at Novendiales Mass

The way to evangelization is “unreserved openness” to others, Cardinal Mauro Gambetti, OFM Conv, said on the fourth day of the Novendiales, the Church’s nine days of mourning for Pope Francis.

Argentine Nuns to Inhabit Benedict XVI’s Final Abode at Pope Francis’ Request

The Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, the last residence of Benedict XVI, will soon welcome a group of Benedictine nuns from Argentina

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNit