“We earnestly pray for his full recovery”: President of Zambia Solicits Citizens’ Spiritual Solidarity with Pope Francis

Lusaka, 08 March, 2025 / 7:52 PM

The President of Zambia has called upon citizens of the Southern African nation to join their counterparts across the globe in offering prayers for Pope Francis, who has been in hospital since February 14 where he is being treated for double pneumonia.

In a Friday, March 7 social media post, President Hakainde Hichilema says, “As a nation deeply rooted in faith, especially during this sacred season of Lent, our hearts and prayers should remain fervently directed toward the Holy Father, Pope Francis.”

“We earnestly pray for his full recovery, so that he may continue guiding the Church with wisdom and grace,” President Hichilema says. 

The seventh Zambian President, who is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist underscored the value of spiritual solidarity with the Holy Father and called for steadfastness.

“Let us remain steadfast in this spiritual duty, undistracted in our devotion and intercession, by conversations outside this vocation,” he says in the March 7 Facebook post.

Pope Francis’ health condition has been described as “stable”. The March 8 evening Vatican update on his health situation indicates that “the Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable in recent days, indicating a good response to therapy”.

“A gradual, slight improvement has been observed,” the Vatican said, adding that in the afternoon of March 8, Pope Francis “alternated between rest and work activities”.

Earlier, on March 6, Pope Francis voiced his gratitude to participants in the Holy Rosary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square.

In a prerecorded audio message, Pope Francis said, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square; I accompany you from here.”

“May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you,” the Holy Father is heard saying in Spanish.