The Archbishop of Buenos Aires, Jorge García Cuerva, led a mass in the neighborhood of Constitución for the health of Pope Francis, who has shown signs of improvement, according to the Press Office of the Holy See. Although it was initially planned for the religious ceremony to take place inside the railway station due to weather conditions, it ultimately took place in the square as the sky cleared.
During the mass, hundreds of faithful gathered to pray for the recovery of the 88-year-old Supreme Pontiff, who has been hospitalized at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome since mid-February due to bilateral pneumonia. García Cuerva highlighted that in a world marked by conflicts, Pope Francis has been a relief and a defender of universal fraternity.
The event was attended by Cardinal Mario Poli, religious authorities, and officials such as the Security Minister of Buenos Aires City, Waldo Wolff. Sister Martha Pelloni also attended and expressed her concern to the media about the challenges facing Argentina, including the situation of retirees, the shortage of medications, poverty, and violence. She also lamented the disappearance of Lian Flores, a three-year-old boy missing in Córdoba.
The religious figure emphasized the importance of social unity and solidarity, calling for more empathy and the abandonment of destructive individualism. In this sense, she stressed the church's vision as a welcoming and inclusive space for all. The mass concluded with a call for prayer for the health of Pope Francis, which will be continued by cardinals in St. Peter's Square in Rome, alongside collaborators from the Roman Curia and the Diocese of Rome.
