Pope Francis, The Vatican: “He Rested Well All Night”

Città del Vaticano  – “Il Papa ha riposato bene, tutta la notte”.

Meanwhile, last night hundreds of people participated in Buenos Aires to an open-air mass dedicated to their compatriot Pope Francesco, hospitalized in critical condition in Rome for pneumonia bilateral.

The faithful gathered in a square in the capital where, when he was archbishop, the pontiff presided over celebrations, denouncing inequalities and injustices. Waving Argentine flags and signs wishing Jorge Bergoglio a speedy recovery, they prayed, sang hymns, participated in the Eucharist and sang: “Viva el Papa Francisco” (“Long Live Pope Francis”).

Last night hundreds prayed in the square in Buenos Aires

“Let our prayer be the breath of fresh air that reaches your lungs,” said Jorge Garcia Cuerva, the current archbishop of Buenos Aires, during his homily in Constitution Square. Before leaving Argentina in 2013 to become Pope, Jorge Bergoglio “was the first priest I met on a subway.

And seeing him up close, with the people, has always given me pleasure. That's why he is my mentor, he is my father and he is my priest," an emotional Mariana Martinez, 49, told AFP. Pope Francis, 88, remains in critical condition but "slightly improving," the Vatican announced Monday evening, amid growing concern for his health.