Hundreds participate in special meal for Pope Francis

Hundreds of people participated in a special outdoor meal in Buenos Aires on Monday for Pope Francis, which remains hospitalized in a critical state with pneumonia in Rome.

A lot was gathered at Plaza Constitución, where Francisc – when he was known as Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio – used to give an annual meal to head against global inequality and injustice.

In the public market, just a few meters from one of the busiest railway stations in the capital, it is common to see sex, street sellers and homeless.

Francis, 88 years old, was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs. The Vatican said on Monday that he remained in a critical condition, but reported a “slight improvement” in his condition.

Walking Argentine flags and banners who want a quick recovery, the Catholic believers prayed, sang hymns, participated in the Eucharist and chanted: “Viva El Pope Francisco!“(” Long Live Pope Francis! “)

“Our pluage is to be the breath of the clean air that touches his lungs,” said Jorge García Cerva, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, in his sermon.

His papacy “is a breath of fresh air – it is an oxygen breath for a world suffocated by violence, selfishness, exclusion,” said the religious leader.

“From this market, Francis said that our society is full of beaten men and women,” said García Cuerva.

“Here, at the Constitution, you see life at the cruelest, without makeup,” he added.

Marcela Jiménez, a 31 -year -old student, said that this is “the market in which she denounced exclusion, discrimination, social injustice.”

Among the crowd, the wisdom Mariana Martinez said that Bergoglio, before leaving Argentina in 2013 to take over the papacy, “was the first priest I met in a subway.”

“Seeing him close, with people, I always liked it. That is why he is my mentor, he is my father and he is my priest, ”said the 49 -year -old.

“A prayer is very strong. It reaches the ears of God, but it also reaches the soul for which we pray, ”she added.

The table was also attended by social organizations, anti-trafing campaigns, volunteer firefighters and other so-called “slum priests”, religious leaders who lead believers in the poor neighborhoods.

– times/AFP

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