Prayer is the only solace

Mar 14, 2025

VATICAN: Since February 24, the faithful, led by cardinals and bishops, have prayed the daily rosary in St Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ recovery. “It is the Pope who gathers us here,” said Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, one of the papal right-hand men.

“In this situation, we’re helpless, so prayer is the only solace,” he said, adding that it only seems like it’s business as usual at the Vatican, “but it’s not, because it feels very empty, without a spirit.”

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Polish prelate who heads the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Service of Charity, serves as the Pope’s key representative in distributing alms to the poor and needy, a focus central to Pope Francis’ papacy. On March 2, he led the Rosary in St Peter’s Square.

Cardinal Krajewski explained that people gather each night in St Peter’s Square — “the heart of Rome, where everything is accomplished” — because it holds profound significance. “This is where martyrdom took place. St Peter’s Square is the cemetery of Christians. It’s also where every papal election is announced. So when the pope suffers, it’s only natural that we rush to this square, just as people did when Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI passed away. The Pope himself gathers us here.” Every evening, thousands of Catholics join in prayer, offering the Rosary for Pope Francis’ recovery, as they turn to the Blessed Mother for comfort and guidance.

“The Mother of God stood at the foot of the cross, sharing in the suffering of her Son. She was helpless. And we, too, in the face of another's suffering, particularly the Holy Father’s, are helpless, because we can do nothing. We can send him our well wishes, but the only real action we can take is to come together,” said Cardinal Krajewski.

“We cannot do anything else during these prayers — there are no sermons, no speeches, no greetings,” the Pope’s almoner added. “Like Mary, we stand under the cross of suffering because it is in this cross that the Holy Father participates.”

The cardinal emphasised that the Rosary is “the best prayer for this time,” and reflected on the Pope's 12-year papacy: “I’ll honestly admit that as I stand in this square, I am reminded of all the good Pope Francis has done. During these prayers, Lord Jesus reminds us of that — and we hope this pontificate continues.”

Before each decade of the Rosary, the cardinal noted, Catholics pray the ‘Our Father’, with its profound message: “‘Thy will be done, not mine.’ It’s a complete surrender to the Lord Jesus, letting it be as God wills.”

Cardinal Krajewski emphasised the power of the nightly prayer gatherings, which draw at least 5,000 faithful each evening, including Jubilee pilgrims. He described the experience as “beautiful to simply stand together with Mary before the great mystery of suffering.”

“Nobody tells these people to come. They are driven by their own necessity, and they rush to the square — it’s like a river flowing,” the cardinal said. “Most of them are young, which shows how much they need guidance today, how much they long for a sign from someone like the Pope — a man of prayer, whose logic is the logic of the Gospel, and who teaches them about Jesus.”

He added, “That’s why I believe we are starting to miss this Pope so much.”

The cardinal also reflected on the three qualities that Pope Francis has taught us to describe “the style of God” — closeness, tenderness, and gentleness. “So every evening when we gather for prayer, we embody God’s style because we want to be close, close to the suffering person. In this way, we show tenderness. We can’t just enter the Holy Father’s room in Gemelli, but by gathering— even at the ends of the earth — we demonstrate our closeness and tenderness. And we do so in the gentlest way possible, praying with Mary, who has already experienced this suffering.”

The cardinal confirmed that the evening Rosaries will continue “until the Pope returns to the Vatican.”

He also acknowledged that the faithful appreciate the clear and balanced communications from the Vatican regarding the Pope’s health. “It’s known to everyone that this illness is very tiring for him, so much so that he needs rest after the night. While the messages may seem brief, they are truthful. If the Pope didn’t need rest, he wouldn’t be in the hospital.”

Cardinal Krajewski praised the wisdom of these communications, saying, “It’s very beautiful that the Pope is telling us the truth — we don’t need to guess, there’s no room for speculation.”

He concluded by noting that, while journalists may be focused on what will happen next, “the only thing we have is our prayer. And the Lord God is already directing the fate of the Church. We are not alone.” --OSV