Die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad van Kerke (SARK) vra dat alle gelowiges saam met die Rooms-Katolieke geloofsgemeenskap sal bid vir Pous Franciskus.

Die oproep kom na wêreldwye kommer oor die gesondheid van die 88-jarige hoof van die Rooms-Katolieke Kerk wat reeds vir meer as 10 dae gehospitaliseer is. Hy is op 14 Februarie in die Gemelli-hospitaal in Rome met asemhalingsprobleme opgeneem wat in dubbele longontsteking ontwikkel het. 

Vandeesweek het die Vatikaan laat weet sy toestand is kritiek maar stabiel.

“We stand in solidarity with the Catholic Community and express our support and prayers during this time. God invites us during times of illness, to call on God’s presence, trusting God for healing and praying for one another,” lui die SARK se verklaring (sien volledige verklaring onder). 

24 FEBRUARY 2025

FROM THE DESK OF REV MZWANDILE MOLO, GENERAL SECRETARY

SACC CALLS FOR PRAYERS

FOR HIS HOLINESS, POPE FRANCIS

AND FOR SOLIDARITY WITH

THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY

The South African Council of Churches (SACC) received with concern, the news of the health challenge and hospitalisation of His Holiness Pope Francis, for a respiratory infection. We stand in solidarity with the Catholic Community and express our support and prayers during this time. God invites us during times of illness, to call on God’s presence, trusting God for healing and praying for one another. 

The Apostle James reminds us that, “Prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up … pray for each other so that you may be healed…” (James 5:15-16). Rooted in our common faith, trusting in the power of prayer, we raise our voices to God interceding for the Holy Father and trust that God will hear our prayers even at this hour. 

We call on all Christians to pray with the global catholic community. We echo the words of the Apostle “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). When we pray together we do not only raise our voices to God but also express our solidarity to each other. Our love for each other is the foundation of our common prayer for the health of the Holy Father, Pope Francis.

To those who participate in daily prayers we call on you to say special prayers for Pope Francis. To those who are part of intercessory prayer groups we encourage you to include the Holy Father in your prayers. Those who have already included him in your prayers, please continue. We further call on those who have worship services to include praying for Pope Francis in your worship time.  

We intercede, trusting that in God’s faithfulness, God will continue to bring comfort to those who trust in God. May our prayers be a source of grace and peace to His Holiness and the Catholic Community, and may God’s will be done in all things.

ENDS