Taipei Catholic Archdiocese to hold Mass for Pope Francis

Taipei, Feb. 26 (CNA) The Catholic Archdiocese of Taipei on Wednesday announced that it will perform a Mass on Saturday to pray for the health and wellbeing of Pope Francis.

All are invited to attend the Mass, which will be led by Archbishop Thomas Chung An-zu (鍾安住), the archdiocese said in a news release.

The Taipei Immaculate Conception Cathedral also welcomes people to recite the rosary at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Thursday until March 6, the release said.

The 88-year-old Francis was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis, according to Vatican News.

He is currently being treated for double pneumonia and is in a critical but stable condition, the news outlet said Wednesday morning, Taipei time.

The Holy See is the only European diplomatic ally of the Republic of China (ROC), the official name of Taiwan. Diplomatic relations were established in 1942 when the ROC government was based in Chongqing.