VATICAN: Pope acknowledges being fragile, calls body ‘weak’

Pope Francis acknowledged being fragile and “facing a period of trial”, as he thanked well-wishers Sunday for prayers in a message from the hospital, where he has been slowly recovering from pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope, who has weathered his setbacks along with periods of improvement since being hospitalised on February 14, sent a particularly personal […]

Pope Francis acknowledged being fragile and “facing a period of trial”, as he thanked well-wishers Sunday for prayers in a message from the hospital, where he has been slowly recovering from pneumonia.
The 88-year-old pope, who has weathered his setbacks along with periods of improvement since being hospitalised on February 14, sent a particularly personal message to the faithful that referenced both his faith – and his frailty.
“I am sharing these thoughts with you while I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me,” wrote the pope in the message published by the Vatican.
“Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope,” he added in the message marking the second Sunday of Lent, a 40-day period of prayer and reflection leading up to Easter.