DENVER — Pope Francis has been stable for two days after suffering two respiratory crises on Monday, as he continues his three-week hospitalization for double pneumonia. The 88-year-old’s prognosis remains uncertain but he expressed gratitude Wednesday in an audio message thanking well-wishers.

“We are praying for his well-being,” said Laurie Barela, a devout Catholic who has met the Pope twice. Like many others in the Catholic community, she remains hopeful for his recovery.

“He has had a very special way of touching people of all faiths, all walks of life,” she explained. “He has brought a lot of people back to the church and we’re really grateful for his joy.” 

Barela and her husband, Daniel, credit Pope Francis with deeply influencing their faith. “Daniel said Pope Francis opened my heart to Jesus,” she said, reading a text message from her husband. “In many ways, I have him to thank for all that is beautiful in my life today.”

Barela’s connection to the Pope began when she and her husband received a blessing from him. “When we got married, we had a very special opportunity to meet with Pope Francis to receive a nuptial blessing,” she recalled. “In that moment, in that space, it was pretty incredible.”

Their bond with the pontiff strengthened in 2015 when they saw him speak in Philadelphia. Now, she hopes for a third encounter. “My husband, daughter, and I are going to Italy in June, and we are very hopeful that we will have an opportunity to see Pope Francis again,” Barela said.

Pope Francis, often described as a pillar of the Catholic community, has been known for his approachability and his impact on people worldwide. “I think that him being approachable was an aspect that really stretched the globe,” Barela noted.

While the Vatican has well-established protocols for a pope’s resignation or death, there are no formal procedures for managing a pontiff’s illness. Despite his health struggles, Pope Francis continued his duties on Wednesday, marking the start of Lent by receiving ashes on his forehead and calling a parish priest in Gaza.

For now, Catholics worldwide continue to pray for the Pope’s health, hoping for his recovery and return to leadership.