Pray for me

Critical with pneumonia & kidney failure

- BY MATT YOUNG in Rome and JEREMY ARMSTRONG

POPE Francis yesterday asked 1.3 billion Catholics to pray for him as he remained critical with double pneumonia in hospital.

The pontiff, 88, was unable to deliver his traditional Sunday prayer in Rome for the second week running.

But in a pre-prepared message, he said he was "carrying on with the necessary treatment" at the city's Gemelli Hospital.

Crowds of well-wishers gathered at the gates after the Vatican revealed Francis was critical on Saturday.

An update last night said his condition had not changed but that he was alert and "well oriented". Blood tests had shown mild kidney failure.