On Tuesday night, the faithful from Francis' homeland gathered in the Argentine church of Rome for a special Mass presided over by Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, the pope’s vicar for Rome. Reina was also celebrating the lunchtime Mass on Wednesday at Gemelli to pray for Francis.

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis was sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia Wednesday, the Vatican said, as Argentines and Romans alike gathered in the Eternal City to pray for his recovery. Francis remained in critical condition.

The Pope is sitting upright and receiving therapy for double pneumonia, the Vatican said, as Argentines, Romans and others kept up a steady stream of prayers for his recovery. Francis remains in a critical condition but the Holy See machinery ground on,