SAN JUAN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — Across the globe, Catholics spent the day praying for Pope Francis as he remains in critical condition at a Rome hospital. In the Rio Grande Valley, the faithful gathered at Basilica in San Juan to pray the rosary.
Even though many were still at work or school, many still made time to attend the global rosary to honor the pontiff.
Ramiro Galvan says that as a fellow Latino, Pope Francis has been instrumental in the plight of the Hispanic community in the Americas.
“Good person, good father, and very kind to everyone, especially with everything that is happening in our community,” Galvan said. “We must worship God and honor the one who has given us so much sacrifice and lead us all.”
Others at the Basilica like Evelyn Mendez remembered the time she saw the pope in Rome.
“He wasn’t close because he is all the way up there, but it was such a blessing, and I carry that in my heart,” Mendez said.
She believes Pope Francis has been instrumental in leading the church out of the pandemic and worldwide political unrest and it is time for people to pray for him. Mendez says she will never forget the words by the pope.
“Just hearing his voice, I don’t know, it was very blessed and so many people were out there just to hear him and his words are words of comfort,” Mendez said. “They guide us through difficult times and in times of happiness they make us to be grateful to God.”
The rosary was held at the same time as a prayer service took place at the Vatican and elsewhere around the world.
Father Jorge Gomez, the director of the Basilica, said he was glad to see Catholics attend the rosary even though there was very little notice.
“Given that only an hour was given before the rosary that the announcement got out, and we got people it shows the love that we have for our pope,” Gomez said.
The priest said he has met the Holy Father twice and says both instances were a wonderful experience.
“I went to Rome for a meeting of directors of shrines in 2019 and then in November 2023, so it is amazing just to be there and shake hands with the pope. Usually, paying attention to the speaker but when it is the pope I was truly paying attention to him.”
Gomez invites the community to continue praying for the pope and the church.
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