On Saturday, the Vatican said that Pope Francis was in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis.
DALLAS, Texas — The news from thousands of miles away is hitting home for some in the Catholic community here in North Texas.
On Saturday, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was in critical condition after suffering a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection.
For Richard Vela, a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Fort Worth, the news came just before attending mass.
“I heard about it actually on my way to mass today,” Vela said.
Though prayers for the pope are always part of the service, today felt different.
“We’re all human, but that’s life,” Vela added. “So, we just want to pray for him as much as we can.”
The health scare has been especially surprising for Pat Svacina, a member of the Catholic Diocese of Fort Worth, who recently saw Pope Francis in the Vatican earlier this year.
“He was spry. He came up on stage,” Svacina recalled about seeing Pope Francis. “You would’ve never thought he’d have any health issues.”
Now, as concerns grow, he said the North Texas Catholic community is wondering what comes next.
“I think that’s what we have here, people are wondering, are we looking at another transition,” Svacina said.
Despite the distance, Catholics across North Texas remain united in prayer, hoping for the Pope’s recovery.
“It just brings us together,” Vela said.
