MANILA, March 30 -- Filipino faithful have been requested to pray for the immediate recovery of Pope Francis, who is in the hospital for respiratory infections.

"Let us pray for Pope Francis as he undergoes treatment at the Gemelli Hospital here in Rome for respiratory infections (not Covid). He expresses his gratitude to all of us for our prayers and closeness with him in spirit," Fr. Greg Gaston, rector of the Pontificio Collegio Filippino in Rome, said in a message sent to Church-run Radio Veritas on Thursday.

The Vatican clarified that although he has been experiencing breathing difficulties, Pope Francis' illness is not caused by the coronavirus disease 2019.

"At a young age, even before he became a priest, the Holy Pope had one o...