The U.S. bishops urged the faithful to join in on a call from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to pray the rosary for Pope Francis Feb. 24 as he remains hospitalized. The Vatican press office said Cardinal Parolin will lead a rosary for the pontiff in St.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, will lead a public recitation of the rosary at 9 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. Peter’s Square.

The U.S. bishops urged the faithful to join in on a call from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to pray the rosary for Pope Francis Feb. 24 as he remains hospitalized.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State during a rosary prayer service held for the health of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at The Vatican, Monday, Feb. 24, 2025.

Pietro Parolin, a 70-year-old Italian polyglot who entered the seminary at just 14, is currently pitted as favourite to replace Francis as the pope is still in hospital.

Pope Francis has been at the Gemelli Clinic in Rome for a few days, steadily battling bilateral pneumonia. The media quickly began speculating about the potential successor to the Pope from Argentina.

The Vatican has detailed laws and rituals to ensure the transfer of power when a pope dies or resigns, but not when he is sick