A man revered by millions as the “doctor of the poor” will be the first saint from Venezuela. Pope Francis approved a decree Tuesday but did not set a date for the canonization of Dr.

Time-honored rituals, drafted and refined over centuries, allow time for mourning and provide order at a dramatic moment of transition.

The combination of health issues has kept the Pope from performing his public duties, including weekly prayers on Sundays, but his doctors have recently said he is alert, joking, and continuing to work, as well as reading messages from well-wishers around the world.

The pontiff's condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease, according to doctors.

You can get in touch with Jesus by emailing [email protected] The chaplain of the Agostino Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis remains hospitalized, has called for faith and prayer, urging Catholics to embrace "hope against all hope" as concerns over the pontiff's health persist.