Since Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14, the global Catholic community has united in fervent prayer for his recovery.

In Rome and at the Vatican, these prayers have taken on a profound and public dimension as clergy and laypeople gather each evening to seek divine intervention for the Holy Father’s health.

Each night, senior Vatican officials lead these devotions in St. Peter’s Square despite the winter chill and inclement weather. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, initiated these prayer gatherings by leading the rosary, and other prominent cardinals have since followed. These nightly vigils reflect the deep concern and spiritual solidarity of the Church for the bishop of Rome.

A particularly poignant aspect of these prayers is the recitation of the ancient Marian prayer, “Sub Tuum Praesidium.” This prayer, which dates back to the third century, is the oldest known hymn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It implores her maternal protection in times of trial: “We fly to Thy protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.”

This invocation of the Blessed Mother’s intercession has resonated deeply with those gathered in Rome and with Catholics around the world who echo these prayers in their own communities. In the United States, dioceses have responded with their own expressions of prayer and solidarity.

Here, in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Robert Brennan has asked Catholics to pray fervently for Pope Francis and has invited the faithful to pray the rosary daily and to include the “Sub Tuum Praesidium” in their devotions.

Churches have extended hours to accommodate those wishing to pray, and special communal services have been arranged. In addition, the diocese’s media outlets have shared these prayer events, ensuring even homebound people can participate in this spiritual effort.

Elsewhere, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York has encouraged the faithful to pray continuously for Pope Francis. Special Masses and prayer vigils have been held throughout the archdiocese, with Cardinal Dolan personally leading several of the services. During these gatherings, he has emphasized the power of communal supplication and the Church’s belief in the efficacy of prayer to bring comfort and healing.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has offered a special prayer encouraging all Catholics to join in interceding for Pope Francis’ well-being:

“O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Francis, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Amen.”

These acts of devotion reflect a profound theological truth: The Church is a communion of believers united in Christ, who bear one another’s burdens through prayer. In times of suffering, the faithful turn to God with confidence, trusting in his mercy and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The prayers rising from St. Peter’s Square, from the churches of New York, and countless hearts worldwide form a spiritual tapestry of love and hope for the Holy Father.

Through these collective acts of faith, Catholics affirm their bond with the Successor of Peter and their trust in God’s healing power.