WATCH Crowds Join Vatican Rosary for Pope Francis with Cardinal Vicar Reina Praying the Luminous Mysteries of Pope John Paul II with Music

In St. Peter's Square, for the fourth consecutive day, the recitation of the Rosary for Francis. Leading the prayer was the Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome: "Let us pray together with the whole Church for the health of the Holy Father. May the Virgin Mary support him at this time"

Saint Peter's Square has become the home of a people who pray incessantly for their Father. Faithful, priests, nuns and cardinals, among them the Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, and the almoner Konrad Krajewski, were all gathered to pray for the health of the Pope. Presiding over the Rosary, was Cardinal Baldo Reina, vicar for the Diocese of Rome. "Brothers and sisters, pilgrims of Hope," said the cardinal, "let us pray together with the whole Church for the health of the Holy Father Francis. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, sustain him at this time."

The people of God pray the Mysteries of Light, added by Saint John Paul II with the apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae , to “rediscover – he wrote in 2002 – the mystical depth contained in the simplicity of the Rosary”. Mysteries of Light because Jesus is “the light of the world” and this dimension, noted John Paul II, emerges particularly in the years of public life, when he announces the Gospel.

The first mystery of light recalls the baptism of Jesus by John in the Jordan, the reader reads a passage from the Gospel of Matthew followed by the recitation of the Our Father , the ten Hail Marys and then the Glory be to the Father sung by the choir; the second mystery focuses on the first miracle of Jesus in the Jordan River; in the third Jesus announces the Kingdom of God, in the fourth mystery of light, the Gospel according to Matthew recalls the transfiguration of Jesus before the disciples; in the last mystery the institution of the Eucharist is recalled.

The Salve Regina is sung while gazing toward the Mother of God. Cardinal Reina knelt before the Virgin, with him the faithful who respond to the Litany of Loreto, holding lit candles and rosaries. “Holy Father,” the cardinal recites, “rekindle our hope, so that no obstacle may make us deviate from the path that leads to salvation.” Before the final blessing, the prayer Oremus pro Pontifice is sung, so that God may preserve the Pope “from all evil.” The Cenacolo community rolls up its banner with the words “Thank you Pope Francis,” in that phrase there is gratitude and filial affection toward the Bishop of Rome. The faithful are hopeful that their prayers are efficacious as news of the pope's slight improvement was released today.
Source: Vatican News