Argentina prays for native son Francis, the first Latin American pope in history

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — “Francis, the city prays for you.”

Those were the words projected onto Buenos Aires' most iconic monument, the Obelisco, over the weekend as Catholics from across Argentina flocked to churches to pray for the recovery of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope in history.

It comes as the pope, a native of Argentina, remains in critical condition Sunday with a serious lung infection in a Rome hospital, where he was admitted on Feb. 14.

In its latest report on Francis’ health condition, the Vatican reported Sunday that the pope was conscious but still receiving “high flows” of supplemental oxygen after going through a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions.

His precarious health has pushed people of faith from across the world to pray for his speedy recovery. But in Argentina, where he once served as a bishop, concern is especially high, even though he hasn't returned to his country since his ascent into the papacy in 2013.

Among them was Catholic priest Lorenzo de Vedia, who said Francis was the “pope who made the Church return to the gospel” in during an evening mass on Saturday in Buenos Aires.

“He has had the great ability to spread the dream of Jesus: that the Church is poor and made for the poor,” he said.

De Vedia was joined by many others who knew Francis and say the religious leader always put the church at the service of the most vulnerable.

Masses for Francis’ health were held throughout the South American country on Sunday. On Monday, a large Mass is planned at the capital's Plaza Constitución, another of the sites where the pope, whose secular name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio, once mingled in the streets with people affected by Argentina's ongoing economic crisis.

Some of the region’s leaders also sent message to Francis. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called him “a true friend, one of those who fight all their lives.”

Francis thanked the well-wishers in a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday.

“I have recently received many messages of affection and I have been especially struck by the letters and drawings from children. Thank you for your closeness and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!” he wrote.

A candle sits alongside a painting of Pope Francis at San José de Flores basilica, Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he worshipped as a youth, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A man bows his head on a pew at San José de Flores basilica, Buenos Aires, Argentina, where Pope Francis worshipped as a youth, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Faithful pray for the health of Pope Francis at Caacupe church in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

A woman holds a rosary during a Mass for Pope Francis' health at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

Priest Agustin Lopez leads a Mass for the health of Pope Francis at Rosario church in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Priest Agustin Lopez leads a Mass for the health of Pope Francis at Caacupe church in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Believers take communion during a Mass for Pope Francis' health at Caacupe church in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Faithful Maria Eugenia Escalante, right, and Felicia Rios carry the image of Jesus del Maiz, venerated in Bolivia, after a Mass in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

A woman prays at the Rosario church in Carlos Mugica neighborhood, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Faithful pray for the health of Pope Francis at Caacupe church in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Faithful pray for Pope Francis' health during a Mass at the Cathedral in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A Ukrainian drone strike killed one person and wounded three others in the Russian city of Voronezh, local officials said Sunday.

A young woman died overnight in a hospital intensive care unit after debris from a drone fell on a house during the attack on Saturday, regional Gov. Alexander Gusev said on Telegram.

Three other people were wounded and more than 10 apartment buildings, private houses and a high school were damaged, he said, adding that air defenses shot down 17 drones over Voronezh. The city is home to just over 1 million people and lies some 250 kilometers (155 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The attack came the day after Russia bombarded Ukraine with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles overnight into Friday, killing at least four people in the capital Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.

For only the second time in the nearly four-year war, Russia used a powerful new hypersonic missile that struck western Ukraine in a clear warning to Kyiv and NATO.

The intense barrage and the launch of the nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile followed reports of major progress in talks between Ukraine and its allies on how to defend the country from further aggression by Moscow if a U.S.-led peace deal is struck.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday in his nightly address that Ukrainian negotiators “continue to communicate with the American side.”

Chief negotiator Rustem Umerov was in contact with U.S. partners Saturday, he said.

Separately, Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia targeted Ukraine with 154 drones overnight into Sunday and 125 were shot down.

Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

This photo provided by the Ukrainian Security Service on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, shows a fragment believed to be a part of a Russian Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile that hit the Lviv region. (Ukrainian Security Service via AP)

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, second left, listens to British Defense Secretary John Healey during their meeting in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Danylo Antoniuk)