Bringing us back to reality

On Wednesday, 5 March, in the private apartment located on the 10th floor of the Gemelli Hospital, the Holy Father participated in the rite of the blessing of the Sacred Ashes, which were imposed on him by the celebrant. He also received the Eucharist.

Afterwards, he engaged in several work activities. During the morning, he also called Father Gabriel Romanelli, the parish priest of the Holy Family Church in Gaza. In the afternoon, he alternated between rest and work.

As the Pope was currently in hospital receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia, his homily for the day was read out by Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, Major Penitentiary of the Apostolic Penitentiary. Speaking off the cuff before delivering the homily, Cardinal De Donatis invited those present to listen to Pope Francis’ words for the occasion and said, “We feel deeply united with him in this moment, and we thank him for the offering of his prayer and his sufferings for the good of the entire Church and the whole world”.