Resignation talk dismissed The fragile state of the pope’s health had spurred speculation that he could step down, as his predecessor, Benedict XVI, did. The current hospitalisation, the longest in Francis’s papacy, has raised questions over who might lead the busy schedule of religious events leading up to Easter, theContinue Reading
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis acknowledged on Sunday (Mar 16) being fragile and “facing a period of trial”, as he thanked well-wishers for prayers in a message from hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for pneumonia. The 88-year-old pope, hospitalised since Feb 14, sent a particularly personal message to theContinue Reading
On Friday he joined prayer and meditation services at the Vatican via video link, without being seen – as in previous days – and did some physiotherapy. The Vatican’s diplomatic corps took part in a mass for Francis led by Italian Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State. Ukraine’sContinue Reading
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis remains stable after almost four weeks in hospital with pneumonia, the Vatican said on Tuesday (Mar 11), declining to speculate on when he might go home, the day after doctors indicated he was no longer in danger. The 88-year-old head of the world Catholic Church hasContinue Reading
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis, hospitalised for weeks with double pneumonia, continues to improve and the 88-year-old’s prognosis is no longer considered uncertain, the Vatican said Monday (Mar 10). “The clinical conditions of the Holy Father continue to be stable,” it said in a statement. “The improvements recorded in the previousContinue Reading
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis passed a quiet night in hospital, the Vatican said on Sunday (Mar 9), after revealing that the 88-year-old was responding well to treatment for pneumonia. “The night was calm, the pope is resting”, the Vatican said in its brief morning update on the Argentine, who has beenContinue Reading
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis is showing a “good response” to his treatment in hospital for double pneumonia and his overall condition is gradually improving, the Vatican said on Saturday (Mar 8). Pope Francis, 88, has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for more than three weeks with a severe respiratory infection thatContinue Reading
The Vatican has been providing twice daily updates on the pope’s health, a morning one on how the night went, and an evening medical bulletin. But on Thursday it said that “in view of the stability of the clinical picture, the next medical bulletin will be released on Saturday”. Nonetheless,Continue Reading
“THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS” During previous hospitalisations, the pope appeared on the Gemelli balcony for his weekly Angelus prayer at noon on Sundays. But he has missed the last three, and no announcement has yet been made about whether he will make an appearance this weekend. The Vatican confirmed on ThursdayContinue Reading
LONGEST HOSPITAL STAY This is Francis’s fourth hospital stay since he became pope on Mar 13, 2013, and is the longest and most fraught. He has, in recent years, suffered from a number of health problems, even while maintaining a packed schedule, including many overseas trips. Francis was admitted toContinue Reading
