Faithful unite in St. Peter's Square, praying for Pope's health (CNS)

As previously announced, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pope’s Secretary of State, led the recitation of the Rosary for the Pope’s health in St. Peter’s Square at 9:00 pm on February 24 (video)—the first in a series of public nightly Rosaries there.

Hundreds of the faithful were in attendance, including 27 cardinals. Among the cardinals present were curial prefects, such as Cardinals Prevost, De Mendonca, Roche, Tagle, and other cardinals, such as Cardinal Re, Becciu, Muller, Burke, and Arinze.

“For 2,000 years Christians have been praying for the Pope when in danger or infirm,” said Cardinal Parolin. “Since the Holy Father Francis has been hospitalized at Gemelli hospital, intense prayer has been raised to the Lord by individual faithful and Christian communities around the world,”