In the Catholic Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope, much of the energy is being centered on Pope Francis's health.

The pope’s health has been the subject of concern for many Catholics for the last several weeks as he is in critical condition as he battles double pneumonia and suffers from mild kidney failure in a Rome hospital. Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York City suggested to NBC’s Today Show on Monday that Pope Francis is in “very, very fragile health” and that he is “probably close to death.” More than 4,600 miles away in Luxemburg, Pastor Dan Schuster of St. Mary’s Parish in Luxemburg and Holy Trinity Parish in Casco says area Catholics are praying for the health of Pope Francis while also being curious about what kind of leader a new pope may be. At 88 years old, Pope Francis is the third oldest ever to serve the Catholic Church, trailing only Pope Celestine II and Pope Leo XIII. The word “mercy” comes to Schuster's mind when he thinks about Pope Francis.

Catholic churches are preparing for the inevitable: Pope Francis will pass away before a replacement is named. Schuster says he has ordered the black bunting that will wrap the doors of his churches when Pope Francis passes away, as part of Catholic tradition.