Hundreds of Argentines gathered in a central square in Buenos Aires Monday to pray for Pope Francis's health and recovery. (AP Video by Cristian Kovadloff)

Francis, the city prays for you.” Those were the words projected onto Buenos Aires' most iconic monument, the Obelisco, over the weekend as Catholics from across Argentina flocked to churches to pray for the recovery of Pope Francis,

People attend a Mass to pray for Pope Francis' health in Constitution square in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises.

A man stands in front of a mural of Pope Francis outside the stadium of San Lorenzo, his soccer team, in the Padre Ricciardelli neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. (Rodrigo Abd/AP) ROME — Pope Francis was sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia Wednesday,

From Buenos Aires to Mexico City, Latin Americans expressed closeness to the Argentine pope as he battles double pneumonia for the second week in a hospital room in Rome.

Faithful leave after attending a Mass to pray for Pope Francis' health at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Argentines have long waited for Pope Francis to visit the homeland he left in 2013 to become the head of the Roman Catholic Church. With his health delicate as he battles double pneumonia, the return seems increasingly unlikely now to happen.

ROME — Pope Francis woke up and was continuing his therapies Monday after a quiet night, on the 10th day of his hospitalization for a complex lung infection that has provoked the early stages of kidney insufficiency, the Vatican said.

ROME — Pope Francis was a frequent visitor to Rome long before he became pope, and over time found his favorite shops and artisans who are now pulling for him as he battles double pneumonia. “The pope is by now a friend, a beloved person for me, not a customer,” said Francis’ optician, Alessandro Spiezia. “I am praying for his recovery.”

Our community is living these days of apprehension in prayer,” said Father Fernando Laguna. “It’s the only way we can be close to the pope. It’s our way of sending him a big kiss and hug.”

Hundreds of Argentines attended a special mass Monday for their countryman Pope Francis, hospitalized in a critical condition with pneumonia in Rome. They gathered on the same square in Buenos Aires where as archbishop,

The Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen.