
Latin America prays for Francis, region's first pope
BUENOS AIRES, Feb 22 (Reuters) - People across Latin America prayed for Pope Francis, the first leader of the Catholic Church to come from the region, as the Vatican reported on Saturday the Argentina-born pontiff was in critical condition in a Rome hospital.
Catholics from Mexico to Argentina and the Pacific to the Atlantic coasts attended masses, lighted candles and said prayers individually for the pope's recovery.
'We ... pray for him with trust in God and pray for his health with joy," said Argentine priest Adrian Bennardins. He praised Francis for making the global Catholic Church "closer, simple, fraternal, without leaving anyone out."
About 54% of Latin Americans identified as Catholic in a 2024 survey by Latinobarometro that interviewed people in 18 countries, down from 80% in 1995.
Among the faithful, people said they felt kinship with Francis, who became Pope in 2013 and was admitted to hospital on February 14, because of cultural affinity.
'Since he's a Latino, he speaks our language and he shares the feelings of the Latino community because we come from a similar culture," said Grisel Jimenez who was attending mass at the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
Francis began his career as a Jesuit priest in Argentina and later served as archbishop of Buenos Aires and a cardinal.
In Buenos Aires, a picture of the pope with the phrase "the city prays for you" was being projected on the city's famed Obelisk at nighttime from Friday to Monday.
Argentina issued a nationwide call earlier in the week to all 'villas' and 'barrios' –- poor neighborhoods and towns —- to pray for the Pope.
Gabriel Indihar, 50, heeded the call, believing in the power of collective prayer.
"When the community prays together, it has greater reach to God so he can make these miraculous transformations," Indihar said. "That is the request we make for the pope."
In neighboring Brazil, the largest Catholic country in the world, people also joined prayers.
"As a Catholic, it's not just about worshipping Christ, but also praying for the pope, praying for our church and praying for the world," said Helio Martins Da Silva, a churchgoer in Sao Paulo.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Watch giant flaming ghost ship continue to burn over a WEEK after blaze erupted on cargo vessel laden with electric cars
THIS is the moment a cargo ship carrying more than 3000 EVs was captured burning over a week after a fire broke out on board. All 22 crew members were forced to abandon ship after a fire tore through the giant vessel travelling from China to Mexico on June 3, according to local media. 5 The Morning Midas was seen burning over a week after it caught fire Credit: Reuters 5 Black smoke was seen engulfing the vessel Credit: X / @USCGAlaska 5 The vessel was travelling 220 miles south of Adak, Alaska Credit: Reuters Everyone on board was safely evacuated but over a week later the Morning Midas continues to burn with coast guards rushing to get the fire under control. Footage shows the giant vessel engulfed in smoke and blackened from the blaze which is thought to have started near the stern. Overflight photos from the US Coast Guard also show the extent of the damage which extends the whole length of the hull. Whilst the ship continues to burn reports suggest it is still watertight. Read more on World FIREBALL SMASH Russian captain charged with manslaughter over ship crash appears in court Zodiac Maritime, one of the vessel's managers, confirmed there were no signs of pollution but spill response teams remained on standby. Two additional tugs will also be sent to help with the rescue operation, with the first arriving in six days and the second in 12 days. Resolve Marine and the United State Coast Guard have also been consulted to help with a spill contingency plan. The firm told World Cargo News: "The safety of everyone involved and the protection of the environment remain our top priorities.' Morning Midas was about 220 miles south of Adak, Alaska when it caught fire and was carrying more than 3,000 vehicles, including around 750 EVs. Oil tanker & cargo ship engulfed in flames after crash just 10 miles off UK coast sparking mammoth rescue mission A Coast Guard spokesperson said: 'The safety of the public, responders, and vessel crews operating in the area remains our top priority. 'We are working closely with Zodiac Maritime to ensure a safe and effective plan to address the fire and mitigate any potential impacts to the environment'. The Morning Midas is estimated to have about 350 metric tons of gas fuel and over 1,500 metric tons of very low sulfur fuel oil onboard. This ship's devastating blaze comes just a couple months after a fire reportedly ripped through a 500ft container ship in the North Sea. The Dutch vessel Victoria L was seen up in flames following the blast. At least 19 crew members were on board the ship when officials were first alerted to the fire at around 1pm, HLN media reports. The ship was travelling through the Hoek van Holland, near to Rotterdam at the time. It was travelling from Hamburg in Germany to the port of Rotterdam. Several ships rushed to the scene to help with the rescue mission along with two helicopters with emergency services on site. The crew is said to have tried to extinguish the fire themselves at first before a second blast caused the Dutch coastguard to send over support vessels. The Victoria L, built in 2009, sails under the flag of Liberia. It is a huge 528ft long and 91ft wide. 5 The blaze is thought to have started near the stern Credit: Alf Van Beem/ Wikimedia Commons


Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
A UDA gang that protects sex offenders is involved in Ballymena riots… this violence is just sheer racism
In Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorways with the blood of a sacrificed lamb so he would "pass over" their houses, sparing their firstborn sons, while striking down the firstborn of the Egyptians. Ballymena has now developed its own version of the Passover, but this is a ritual where people mark their doors with Union flags. Those without the mark risk having their property razed to the ground.


Belfast Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
There's no dressing up Ballymena violence, there is no, ‘it is wrong but'… it is just racism
In Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to mark their doorways with the blood of a sacrificed lamb so he would "pass over" their houses, sparing their firstborn sons, while striking down the firstborn of the Egyptians. Ballymena has now developed its own version of the Passover, but this is a ritual where people mark their doors with Union flags, those without the mark risk having their property razed to the ground.