By CNA Staff
Vatican City, Mar 10, 2025 / 07:00 am
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis.
Follow here for the latest news on his health and hospitalization:
Pope Francis’ clinical condition “continues to be stable,” the Vatican reports on Monday evening.
“The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical objectivity and the good response to drug therapy,” the Holy See Press Office statement says.
As the pope continues to respond well to treatment, the Gemelli Hospital decides to “dissolve the prognosis” but confirms that the 88-year-old pontiff has to remain at Gemelli for treatment.
“However, in view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue, for additional days, medical drug therapy in a hospital setting,” the statement says.
In the morning, the Holy Father participated in the first day of the Roman Curia’s spiritual exercises held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall via a video link.
He also “received the Eucharist and went to the chapel of the private apartment for a moment of prayer” before joining spiritual exercises again in the afternoon.
“During the day he alternated between prayer and rest,” the Vatican update concludes.
Pope Francis spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he continues his recovery while participating remotely in the Lenten spiritual exercises, according to a Monday update from the Holy See Press Office.
The pontiff has resumed respiratory and physical therapy after transitioning from noninvasive mechanical ventilation during the night to high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas.
The statement notes that Francis followed the Curia’s spiritual exercises via video from his hospital chair this morning, joining participants spiritually in the event in the Paul VI Audience Hall.
The 88-year-old pope has been informed about flooding in Argentina and “expresses his closeness to those affected,” the press office states.
While his medical condition remains “stable within a complex framework,” doctors maintain a reserved prognosis. A medical bulletin, which wasn’t published Sunday due to the stable clinical picture, is expected to be released Monday evening.
The rosary for the pope’s health will be prayed at approximately 6 p.m. local time in the Paul VI Hall. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, will lead the prayer.
Today marks the 25th day of hospitalization for Pope Francis, who was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic on Feb. 14.
Pope Francis has spent another tranquil night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican Press Office announces Sunday morning.
Saturday evening’s medical bulletin indicated cautious signs of improvement three weeks after the pontiff’s admission: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable in recent days, showing a good response to treatment.”
The 88-year-old pope plans to join the Roman Curia spiritually for their Lenten retreat beginning on the First Sunday of Lent. The Vatican will release the text of the pope’s Angelus message in writing later today.
The rosary for Pope Francis tonight at St. Peter’s Square will be presided over by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.
The Vatican says Pope Francis’ condition on Saturday evening remains “stable” with the Holy Father showing a “gradual, slight improvement” in his condition.
The pope’s stability on Saturday “testifies to a good response to therapy,” the Holy See Press Office says.
The Holy Father has “always remained [without a fever],” the Vatican notes, adding: “Gas exchanges have improved; blood chemistry and haemocrocitometric tests are confirmed to be stable.”
“The doctors, in order to record these initial improvements in the coming days, prudentially still keep the prognosis reserved,” the press office says.
On Saturday morning, meanwhile, Francis received the Eucharist, prayed in the chapel of the papal hospital apartment, and later “alternated rest with work activities,” the Vatican says.
Pope Francis is resting comfortably at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital this morning as he continues treatment for bilateral pneumonia. The Holy See Press Office reports that the 88-year-old pontiff had a quiet night.
“The night passed quietly; the pope is resting,” reads this morning’s brief statement.
The pope’s clinical condition remains stable as he receives ongoing care. Medical staff continue to describe his prognosis as “guarded.”
Vatican officials report that Francis is dividing his time between prayer, rest, and work while continuing his respiratory physiotherapy treatments.
Medical teams provide the pope with high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas during the day. At night, he switches to noninvasive mechanical ventilation to support his breathing.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will lead a holy rosary for Pope Francis later today. The prayer service will gather the faithful to offer prayers for the pope’s swift recovery.
A more detailed medical update on the pope’s condition is expected this evening.
Vatican sources said Pope Francis’ condition remained stable Friday, as doctors indicated the next medical bulletin would be delivered Saturday.
After a heartfelt audio message from the pope was played in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday evening, Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni explained it was Francis’ desire to record and play the greeting to thank everyone who is praying for him. He said the pope feels like he is being carried by the many prayers.
Pope Francis spent a quiet night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and woke up shortly after 8 a.m., the Holy See Press Office says in a brief update on Friday, marking three weeks since the Holy Father was hospitalized.
Tonight’s evening rosary for the pope will be led by Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy, at 9 p.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square.
In a prerecorded message, Pope Francis thanked those gathered for the rosary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday night.
“I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my health from the square; I accompany you from here,” the Holy Father said in Spanish. “May God bless you and the Virgin protect you. Thank you.”
The Holy Father’s voice was hoarse, and he was noticeably out of breath in the brief audio message, which the Holy See Press Office said was recorded today.
The Vatican confirms on Thursday evening that Pope Francis’ health remains stable, with no significant changes compared with previous days.
The Holy Father has not experienced any further episodes of respiratory insufficiency and continues to undergo respiratory and motor physiotherapy. His blood flow parameters and blood test results remain stable, and he has not had a fever. However, doctors are still keeping the prognosis reserved.
Given the pope’s stable condition, the Vatican announces that the next official medical update will be released on Saturday. In the meantime, Pope Francis has maintained a balanced routine, engaging in some work activities throughout the morning and afternoon while also taking time for rest and prayer. Before lunch, the Holy Father received the Eucharist.
Friday marks three weeks since Pope Francis was first admitted to Gemelli Hospital. The Vatican has not provided an indication of when he could be released from the hospital.
Pope Francis has spent another restful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he continues treatment for bilateral pneumonia, the Holy See Press Office announces Thursday morning.
“The night passed quietly; the pope is still resting,” the Holy See Press Office tells journalists.
The pope is receiving a number of treatments, sources say, including active motor physiotherapy and high-flow oxygen therapy.
The daily rosary for Pope Francis’ health will again be prayed tonight at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square. Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, will preside over the prayer service.
Pope Francis participated in the rite of the blessing of ashes for Ash Wednesday from his hospital room on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican says Wednesday evening local time.
On his 20th day in the hospital, Pope Francis also received the Eucharist, did respiratory and physical therapy, called the Catholic parish in Gaza, worked, and rested, according to the Holy See Press Office.
His condition remained stable.
Pope Francis has a restful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he receives treatment for bilateral pneumonia, according to a Wednesday morning update from the Holy See Press Office.
“The pope rested well overnight and woke up shortly after 8 a.m. this morning,” the Vatican states.
The pontiff’s persistent pneumonia poses challenges as he continues respiratory therapy and high-flow oxygen treatment. Vatican officials report that while the pope’s situation appears stable, his overall clinical condition “remains complex.”
As previously announced, the Holy Father resumes noninvasive mechanical ventilation overnight as planned. Despite the continuing treatment, doctors note that the pope’s vital signs, including heart, kidney, and blood values, remain stable.
Due to Pope Francis’ hospitalization, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, the major penitentiary, will preside over the Ash Wednesday liturgy at Rome’s Basilica of Santa Sabina. The traditional “stational” service at Sant’Anselmo on the Aventine Hill, followed by the penitential procession, will begin at 4:30 p.m.
The holy rosary prayer for the pope’s health will be led by Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square.
Vatican medical bulletins provide daily updates on the pope’s condition since his admission to Gemelli Hospital. Tuesday evening’s update noted that the pope remained “alert, cooperative with therapies, and oriented” throughout the day, alternating between periods of prayer and rest.
Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, leads the rosary in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening at 9 p.m.
Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, leads the rosary in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening at 9 p.m. pic.twitter.com/OahIwc9LsJ
Pope Francis’ health remains stable as he continues treatment for respiratory issues, the Vatican says in a statement on Tuesday evening.
The 88-year-old pope did not experience any further episodes of respiratory insufficiency or bronchospasm today and remained alert and cooperative with his medical care.
Doctors transitioned the pope to high-flow oxygen therapy, a treatment designed to support his breathing, and he has also undergone respiratory physiotherapy to aid his recovery.
As part of his ongoing care, “noninvasive mechanical ventilation” is scheduled to resume overnight and continue until Wednesday morning.
While his prognosis remains reserved, the Vatican says that Pope Francis has been able to alternate between prayer and rest throughout the day. He received the Eucharist on Tuesday morning.
Pope Francis “slept through the night” and is now resting following his earlier episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency, the Vatican said Tuesday morning.
According to the Holy See Press Office, Pope Francis is still receiving high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas.
The 88-year-old pontiff experienced breathing difficulties Monday due to a “significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and subsequent bronchospasm,” which caused a narrowing of the bronchial tubes.
The pope underwent two bronchoscopies “with the need for aspiration of copious secretions,” the Vatican statement said. Doctors for a while resumed noninvasive mechanical ventilation to assist with his breathing on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Vatican prayer vigil for the pope’s recovery continues.
Cardinal Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, will lead the rosary in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday evening at 9 p.m.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, is joined Monday evening by hundreds of faithful in prayer as he leads the eighth rosary for Pope Francis’ recovery in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican.
Tonight, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, led the 8th Holy Rosary of the week in St. Peter’s Square, joined by hundreds of faithful in prayer for Pope Francis’ recovery on his 17th day in the hospital. pic.twitter.com/sFQ4rSftQ6
Pope Francis on Monday underwent two bronchoscopies after he had “two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency,” the Holy See Press Office says in an evening statement.
The episodes were caused by “significant accumulation of endobronchial mucus and subsequent bronchospasm,” the statement says.
The bronchoscopies “were performed with the need for aspiration of copious secretions” and “noninvasive mechanical ventilation was resumed in the afternoon.”
His prognosis “remains reserved.”
The statement notes that the pope “remained alert, oriented, and cooperative at all times.”
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, will lead the recitation of the holy rosary for Pope Francis’ health this evening at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican announces.
The prayer gathering comes as the Holy Father continues to receive treatment after Vatican officials described his condition as “stable” but “complex” on Sunday. The most recent update Monday morning indicated the pope “rested well throughout the night.”
The Holy See Press Office issues a brief statement on Monday morning Rome time, confirming that “the pope rested well throughout the night.”
This update follows Sunday’s news that described Pope Francis’ condition as “stable” but still “complex” as he receives treatment. The pontiff has been receiving oxygen therapy but has not required mechanical ventilation.
Recovery for the 88-year-old Holy Father “will certainly not be imminent,” Vatican officials caution later in the morning.
Medical staff continue to monitor the Holy Father’s condition closely.
Pope Francis has not required mechanical ventilation as he continues to receive treatment for a “complex” medical situation, the Holy See Press Office tells journalists on Sunday evening.
“The clinical conditions of the Holy Father have remained stable throughout today; the pope has not required non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only oxygen therapy with high flow,” the statement says, adding that the pontiff is without fever.
The Vatican also confirms that Pope Francis participated in Holy Mass in the hospital chapel on Sunday morning, then alternated between rest and prayer throughout the day. He also met officials after his morning coffee.
Vatican sources indicate the situation is more stable now, with the Sunday evening medical bulletin showing no direct consequences from Friday’s health crisis.
However, officials cautioned that “it remains a complex situation with risk of criticality.”
Faithful and members of religious orders from around the world continue to gather in front of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, holding “marathon” prayer vigils for Pope Francis after his more than two-week hospitalization.
Faithful and religious people from around the world continue to gather in front of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, holding “marathon” prayer vigils for Pope Francis's health on his 16th day of hospitalization.
