The Phoenix Roman Catholic community has been sending messages of gratitude as they pray for Pope Francis’ health.
Concern for the ailing pope – leader of the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics – has been pouring in from people of all religious backgrounds, according to Father John Muir, the vicar general of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.
“It's been an opportunity for us to, you know, pray for him, but also to give thanks for the incredible gift that he's been to, really, the whole world,” Muir said.
I have recently received many messages of affection, and I have been particularly struck by the letters and drawings from children. Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) February 23, 2025
Pope Francis was hospitalized Feb. 14 for bronchitis, which developed into pneumonia, according to the Vatican. The 88-year-old pontiff remains in stable condition.
Muir said his friends from Jewish, Muslim and atheist affiliations have reached out to him.
“I think that curiosity is just reawakened, and that people are like, ‘Hey, how's he doing?’” Muir said. “It feels like a family member, where people are just like, you know, 'we heard about, you know, the pope being sick, and we're worried about him, and we're, you know, we care about him.'”
READ MORE: Concerns rise about how long Pope Francis might continue to lead the world's Catholics
Pope Francis asked the people to bless him as he began his papacy.
“Now here we are, 12 years later, and the same kind of thing is happening. He's, you know, facing these years of frailty, and he's asking us to bless him,” Muir said.
The Phoenix diocese is home to more than 1.7 million Catholics.
“He, from the beginning of his pontificate in 2013, was embodying, I think, a new kind of closeness to people and also humility,” Muir said. “I think that was just really invigorating and refreshing to see.”
