WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The D.C. region is home to hundreds of thousands of people of the Catholic faith, many of them saying extra prayers for the church’s leader, Pope Francis.
The pontiff has been hospitalized in Rome for 10 days, currently described as being in critical condition.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (BNSIC) in Northeast D.C. was the site of a papal visit back in 2015, and the site of prayers and well wishes for the Pope Monday afternoon as dozens of people piled into the Crypt Church for mass.
The BSNIC is the largest Catholic church in North America and one of the 10 largest in the world.
The Pope’s 2015 visit is marked by exhibits and displays inside the Basilica’s halls and in the concrete on the building’s east portico, from which Pope Francis spoke to a large crowd.
The Basilica’s Director of Liturgy, Father Ismael Ayala, remembered Pope Francis’ visit nearly 10 years ago during the midday mass on Monday.
“We’ve all heard about the concerns surrounding Pope Francis’ health. Our Holy Father, whose compassionate leadership inspires us, is not immune to the frailties of human life,” Ayala said. “I recall, back in 2015, a picture-perfect day with sunshine and blue skies and a crowd of 25,000 people outside, eagerly awaiting him. Pope Francis graced this Basilica with his presence. He demonstrated his unwavering commitment to ministering to the faithful.”
The BNSIC held an additional service on Monday dedicated to prayer for the Pope as he remains in poor health.
People who sat in the pews prayed for the Pope and sent him well wishes.
“We wish him a quick recovery and God’s blessing, that he could continue his ministry or make a decision not to,” said one person who attended the midday mass.
