Several shrines dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Diocese of Antipolo, covering the Catholic churches in Rizal Province and Marikina City, have started offering prayers for the swift recovery of Pope Francis.
Leading the recitation of the prayers for Pope Francis are the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City, Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cardona, and the Diocesan Shrine of the Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, and the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light in Cainta, all in Rizal Province; and the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Our Lady of the Abandoned in Marikina City.
Antipolo Bishop Ruperto Cruz Santos issued an official prayer of the diocese for the healing and recovery of the Roman Catholic’s 88-year old supreme pontiff, who is battling bilateral pneumonia. He has been under close medical watch for his respiratory illness at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, Italy.
The prayer was reposted on social media pages of the shrines and parish churches in the diocese.
The bishop’s prayer for the Pope was first recited in all the Masses at the International Shrine of the Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage and shrines and parish churches in the diocese in the afternoon and evening masses on Thursday, Feb. 20, particularly after the Holy Communion or prior to the final blessing.
The same prayer will also be uttered in all the Masses in the Antipolo's international shrine.
At the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Cardona, the prayer for Pope Francis will be uttered at the 6 a.m. Mass on February 21 and all the Masses thereafter said Fr. Reynate Tolentino, the shrine’s rector.
Fr. Tolentino told Manila Bulletin that the mass intentions will also be offered for the Holy Father’s speedy recovery, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.
In its post on Facebook page, the Cardona shrine also called for prayers for those who are taking care of the pope for them to have the skill and the wisdom to find the solution for his healing.
“Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, may Pope Francis be healed from this illness so he can continue his ministry in shepherding Christ’s flock”, the post on the Cardona shrine’s social media page indicated.
The same Facebook page also reposted the text of Bishop Ruperto’s official prayer for the Pope.
The Diocesan Shrine of Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, Rizal has also posted its own version of prayer for the pope’s healing.
The Diocesan Shrine and Parish of the Our Lady of the Abandoned in Marikina City and the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Our Lady of Light in Cainta, Rizal, also reposted the bishop’s prayer, encouraging the shrine parishioners to offer their intentions for healing of Pope Francis.
It was Pope Francis who issued the decree that led to the canonical coronation of the Our Lady of Light in Cainta, Our Lady of the Rosary in Cardona, and the Our Lady of Aranzazu in San Mateo, the Our Lady of Fatima in Marikina, and the Nuestra Senora dela Annunciata in Antipolo City, all under the Diocese of Antipolo.