"A Painful and Shameful Event for All Humanity"
Condolences Extended to Other Conflict Zones Including the Middle East
Condition Remains Critical
Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized for over a week due to pneumonia, delivered a message on the 24th marking the 3rd anniversary of the Ukraine war, stating that "the Ukraine war is a painful and shameful event."
According to the Vatican on the 23rd (local time), the Pope said in his Angelus address, "Tomorrow marks the 3rd anniversary of the full-scale war against Ukraine," adding, "It is a painful and shameful event for all humanity." He then expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine and asked for prayers for the victims in all conflict zones, including Palestine and Israel, the Middle East, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Vatican issued the statement on behalf of the Pope, who is currently hospitalized due to health issues.
The Pope, hospitalized since the 14th due to pneumonia, also expressed gratitude to those who prayed for his health. He said, "I have received many warm messages," and "I was deeply moved especially by the letters and drawings sent by children."
Regarding the Pope's health condition on that day, the Vatican stated, "The night passed peacefully, and the Pope rested," but did not share specific information such as whether the Pope got out of bed to have breakfast.
The 88-year-old Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital in Italy on the 14th for bronchitis treatment and was diagnosed with pneumonia. On the 22nd, he showed symptoms of respiratory distress, received high-dose oxygen therapy, and blood tests revealed thrombocytopenia and anemia, leading to a blood transfusion.
The Vatican stated, "The Pope remains in a serious condition due to a complex lung infection but is conscious and receiving high-dose oxygen therapy and blood transfusions," adding, "He is also undergoing additional clinical examinations."
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