With Catholics around the world on edge over the sudden health decline of Pope Francis, Bishop Alberto Rojas brought the local Church together to pray in a special Mass of Intention on Feb. 26 at Christ the Redeemer Church in Grand Terrace that was also livestreamed on the diocesan YouTube channel.
Bishop Rojas sounded a note of optimism at the start of Mass saying, “we heard he is getting better, I guess our prayers are creating some effect. That’s good. The whole world is praying for him.”
At press time Pope Francis had been hospitalized since February 14 due to respiratory distress. His condition became critical on February 22, and he has since shown gradual improvement. With worldwide Masses, Rosaries and individual prayers for the Pope’s healing taking place, Bishop Rojas initiated a hastily planned Mass at Christ the Redeemer. Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes and eight priests concelebrated the Mass. They were joined by four diocesan seminarians and about 75 attendees. Another 450 people participated via livestream.
“He’s very well loved by the whole world,” said Christ the Redeemer parishioner Consuelo Hernandez, who attended the Mass. “I’m just thinking about how he’s in pain, I’m sad.”
In his homily Bishop Rojas reflected on the Holy Father’s call for the Church to be a “field hospital” for the wounded and disenfranchised.
“From the very beginning of his pontificate he has been saying, ‘be hospitable, be welcoming, be compassionate to others before teaching them the bible,” Bishop Rojas said. “Pope Francis says that doing good is a duty. He says that is an identity card that God the Father gave to all of us because he made us in his image and likeness.”
The Bishop’s reflection on Pope Francis’ legacy of acceptance and accompaniment resonated with Osbelia Lozano-Ossie, whose daughter belongs to the LGBTQ community.
“When he sent that message that we need to be compassionate, to welcome all of our brothers and sisters, no matter what, that really helped me,” Lozano-Ossie said of Pope Francis after the Mass.
Father John Gunningham, one of the eight priests to concelebrate the Mass, said he was encouraged by the response of the Church, both locally and around the world.
“Everybody’s praying for him,” Fr. Gunningham said. “I think he’s going to fight.”
Information in the story is based on events as of February 28.