Kansas City Catholics send prayers to Pope Francis

LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - Kansas City Catholics have been sharing their prayers for Pope Francis, and that could be seen at the St. James Church during Saturday’s mass.

Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14th. At first, it appeared that his condition, which included pneumonia in both lungs, was improving. However, an update on Saturday released by the Vatican changed the Pope’s condition to critical.

“Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the istration of high-flow oxygen,” the statement read. “Blood tests also revealed thrombocytopenia, associated with anemia, which required the istration of blood transfusions.

“(He) remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, although he is more fatigued than yesterday. At the moment, the prognosis remains guarded.”

Part of Father Mike Roach’s homily before the congregation at St. James asked for a healthy recovery for the Pope, and for prayers to lift up his health.

“If his health can’t improve, then I think he’ll be with God and watching over us, but I still think he has some time left here on earth that I’d like to see him carry out his real wishes, and that’s to bring the world together in peace,” Roach said. “He’s also reached out to some groups that have oftentimes been ostracized in the church, and I think that’s a real blessing.”

of the congregation, like Brock Bagby, offered their thoughts with KCTV5 after mass concluded.

“We’re really praying for him, you know, the whole homily today was about the Pope and how we’re praying for him, “Bagby said. “He’s bringing such a light, to our church, to our world.”

Patrick West has had respiratory problems that began two years ago with pneumonia in both of his lungs, and the lingering issues are still affecting him.

“I pray that he gets much better,” West said. “He’s the leader of our faith, he’s doing a good job, and I want him to get better.”

Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.