Pope Francis' clinical condition continues to improve at the Gemelli Polyclinic, as the Holy Father today delivered a message on vocation to the world and the Church. This morning, on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Holy Father concelebrated Holy Mass.
Doctors have suspended the Holy Father's non-invasive mechanical ventilation and the need for high-flow oxygen therapy has also been reduced. In addition, motor and respiratory physiotherapy progress continues.
The last two nights have been spent by the Pope without a breathing mask, the Vatican Press Office has reported, indicating that his need for supplemental oxygen continues to diminish.
The decision to forgo mechanical ventilation at night aligns with a medical plan to "progressively reduce" the pope's intake of supplemental oxygen, the press office had said the day before yesterday, although that does not mean he will no longer use it at night.
Oxygen reduction
In recent days, Pope Francis has been alternating between high-flow and normal-flow oxygen during the day, and doctors had already been reducing the number of hours he uses mechanical ventilation at night. For brief periods, the pope could do without supplemental oxygen altogether, the press office had noted the day before. In fact, in the picture released on the 16th, the Pope was shown on his side, but without a nasal tube.
On the eve of St. Joseph's Day, it was Cardinal Major Penitentiary Angelo De Donatis who led the prayer of the rosary in St. Peter's Square for the Pope's health.
Audience with the British King and Queen
Although the Vatican has not provided information on the matter, British King Charles III and Queen Camilla confirmed that they plan to meet with Pope Francis in early April. The British Embassy to the Holy See made public on March 18 the Buckingham Palace itinerary for the royal state visit, which includes an audience with Pope Francis on April 8.
"Vocation is a precious gift."
Today, the Feast of St. Joseph, the Holy See has issued the Message of Pope Francis for the LXII World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2025, which takes place on May 11.
A text which reflects on 'Pilgrims of hope: the gift of life', and the response of vocation and hope in the divine plan. I would like to extend to you an invitation full of joy and encouragement to be pilgrims of hope, giving your lives generously," the Pope began.
"Vocation is a precious gift that God sows in the heart, a call to go out of ourselves to undertake a path of love and service. And every vocation in the Church - be it lay, to the ordained ministry or to the consecrated life - is a sign of the hope that God places in the world and in each of his children," the Pontiff explains.
The Pope recalls that, in the face of every adverse circumstance of life, especially in young people, the Lord "wants to awaken in each one the conviction of being loved, loved and sent as a pilgrim of hope".
Welcoming one's own vocational path
"In our time, many young people feel lost before the future (...) For this reason, we, the adult members of the Church - especially pastors - are asked to welcome, discern and accompany the vocational journey of the new generations. And you, young people, are called to be the protagonists of your vocation or, better still, co-protagonists together with the Holy Spirit, who awakens in you the desire to make your life a gift of love", Pope Francis said.
Shortly afterwards, the Holy Father adds: "Dear friends, the Church is alive and fruitful when she generates new vocations. And the world, often without knowing it, is looking for witnesses of hope, who proclaim with their lives that following Christ is a source of joy. Therefore, let us not tire of asking the Lord for new laborers for his harvest, in the certainty that he continues to call with love".
The Pope addresses young people in a special way when he says: "I entrust your journey of following the Lord to the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church and of vocations. Always walk as pilgrims of hope along the way of the Gospel! I accompany you with my blessing, and I ask you, please, to pray for me".
Catechesis: Encounters of Jesus, today with Nicodemus
The Holy See has published this St. Joseph's Day morning the catechesis The text of Pope Francis prepared for the general audience that was to be held today, March 19, and which has been cancelled due to the Pope's hospitalization. The text follows the cycle of catechesis on 'Jesus Christ, our hope', planned for this Jubilee year.
The Pope wishes to comment on some encounters narrated in the Gospels, in order to understand the way in which Jesus gives hope, points out the agency the official Vatican. Indeed, there are encounters that enlighten life and give hope, as we read in today's text, which refers to the encounter Jesus had with Nicodemus (Jn 3:1-3).
If we do not accept to change, the risk is to die
Regarding the encounter with Nicodemus, the Holy Father commented at one point that "at certain moments in life (this) happens to all of us. If we do not accept to change, if we close ourselves up in our rigidity, in our habits or in our ways of thinking, we run the risk of dying".
"A new birth"
"Life lies in the ability to change in order to find a new way of loving. In fact, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus of a new birth, which is not only possible, but even necessary at certain moments of our journey." Little by little, Nicodemus will understand that these two meanings go together: if we let the Holy Spirit generate in us a new life, we will be born again. We will recover that life that perhaps was being extinguished in us".
"I have chosen to begin with Nicodemus," the Pope explains, "also because he is a man who, with his own life, demonstrates that this change is possible. Nicodemus will succeed: in the end he will be among those who go to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus (cf. Jn 19:39)! Nicodemus has finally come to the light, he has been reborn and no longer needs to be in the night.
Changes frighten us: looking at the Crucified One
The Pope writes: "Change sometimes frightens us. On the one hand, we are attracted to them, sometimes we desire them, but on the other hand we would prefer to remain in our comforts. That is why the Spirit encourages us to face these fears."
"Only by looking squarely at what we are afraid of can we begin to be liberated," Francis teaches. "Nicodemus, like all of us, will be able to look at the Crucified One, the One who conquered death, the root of all our fears. Let us too raise our eyes to the One whom they pierced, let us allow Jesus to meet us too. In Him we find the hope to face the changes of our life and to be reborn".
