Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square on a chilly, rainy evening to pray for an ailing Pope Francis.

Rome’s diocese invited all the parishes and religious communities of the city to hold a communitarian silent prayer on Wednesday afternoon for the health of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis will not take part in this weekend's Holy Year events because of his continued ill health, the Vatican said on Tuesday.

"Thank you for your closeness, and for the consoling prayers I have received from all over the world!" In a late update on Sunday, the Vatican said Francis remains in critical condition and blood tests show early kidney failure but he remains alert and "well-oriented.

Pope Francis was hospitalized Friday to treat a weeklong bout of bronchitis and undergo diagnostic tests, the Vatican said, confirming the latest issues with the 88-year-old's pontiff's health that forced him to cancel his agenda through Monday at least.

Supporters of President Donald Trump have attacked Pope Francis after the pontiff spoke against the Republican's mass deportation plans. Newsweek has contacted the Vatican for comment via email. The fallout highlights a potential growing ideological divide between conservative Catholicism and Trump's MAGA base.

The pope does not name Trump in his letter, but it is a clear directive to resist the demonization of migrants and refugees.

Thousands of people gathered in St. Peter’s Square to pray for an ailing Pope Francis, expressing sorrow for his suffering, hope for his recovery and gratitude for his efforts to steer the Catholic Church in new directions.

Pope Francis was hospitalized on Friday as he suffers from an ongoing bout of bronchitis, the Vatican tells Fox News. He is also expected to undergo tests during his stay, according to a report.

In the letter, the pope said the criminalization of migrants and the mass deportations planned by the U.S. government are dangerous and called the country's current immigration policies a “major crisis.

Pope Francis's respiratory tract infection is showing some signs of improvement, but the hospitalised pontiff will not lead his weekly Angelus prayer following Sunday mass, the Vatican said Saturday.