LIVE UPDATES: Time frame for Pope Francis’ discharge from hospital still uncertain

The Holy See Press Office says on Friday the timing for Pope Francis’ eventual discharge from Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since Feb. 14, is still uncertain.

Due to a better exchange of gasses, the pope’s high-flow oxygen therapy has been reduced during the day. High-flow oxygen is now used at night in place of noninvasive mechanical ventilation, the Vatican communications organ says.

The 88-year-old pontiff did not have any visitors at the hospital in recent days, which he has spent receiving treatment, doing respiratory and physical therapy, in work, and in prayer.

After over a month in the hospital for chronic and acute respiratory infections, including double pneumonia, the Holy See Press Office notes that Pope Francis is in stable condition and showing “small improvements.”

The text of the pope’s weekly message for the Angelus is expected to be published and distributed on Sunday.

Doctors are not expected to issue another medical bulletin before Monday, March 24, the press office says.

As the Pontifical Urban College for the Propagation of the Faith prepares to lead the rosary prayer for the pope on Friday night, Pope Francis continues to serve the Church, according to Archbishop Richard Gallagher, secretary for relations with states at the Vatican.

Gallager celebrated a Mass for the pontiff’s health on Thursday, March 21, as the pope continues his medical treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

During his homily at the Church of Gesù in Rome, the English archbishop emphasized that despite his illness, the Holy Father continues serving “the Church and humanity, albeit in a different way.”

“In this moment of human fragility, he serves the Church and humanity no less effectively, although he does so in a different way,” Gallagher stated at the Jesuit church where several ambassadors to the Holy See gathered to pray for Francis’ recovery from bilateral pneumonia.

The archbishop centered his homily on divine love, noting that in today’s world, where “darkness sometimes seems to prevail over light,” spiritual renewal during Lent can “lead us to the path of encounter.”

He highlighted ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and other regions, calling Christians to “spread the values of love, justice, and peace.”

Every day, letters of love and support pour in for Pope Francis. Since his hospitalization, mail to the Vatican has surged up to 330 pounds more per day!

Pope Francis has now spent 33 days hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital since his admission on Feb. 14 as Vatican officials continue to provide updates on the 88-year-old pontiff’s condition.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, firmly denied rumors of papal resignation discussions during his recent visits to Pope Francis.

The cardinal said he found the Holy Father “in better condition” during his March 9 visit compared with earlier encounters.

Despite his delicate health, Pope Francis remains actively involved in Church governance. “The pope gives his instructions,” Parolin emphasized, confirming that Francis continues to make necessary decisions while hospitalized.

A recent example of Pope Francis’ ongoing papal activity includes gifting his Presidential Medal of Freedom, awarded by former U.S. President Joe Biden, to the metropolitan cathedral of Buenos Aires, where he served as archbishop before he was elected pope in 2013.

Meanwhile, prayers persist for the pontiff’s recovery. The Apostolic Vatican Archive and the Vatican Apostolic Library will animate a rosary prayer service, guided by Archbishop Angelo Vincenzo Zani, archivist and librarian of the Holy Roman Church.

Doctors say Wednesday that Pope Francis’ condition continues to improve and he is no longer using noninvasive mechanical ventilation.

According to the March 19 medical update from the Vatican, the pontiff has also reduced his use of high-flow oxygen therapy.

The pontiff’s 34th day in the hospital included the concelebration of a Mass in the morning for the solemnity of St. Joseph as well as both respiratory and physical therapy.

The Holy See Press Office says the pope also spent time in prayer and doing work. While the infections in his lung are still present, they are “under control,” it adds.

The Vatican also notes that due to Francis’ stable situation, the next medical bulletin will be issued sometime next week. The Vatican will also provide information on the pope to journalists on Friday, March 21, and on Monday, March 24.

Pope Francis connects hope with vocational discernment in his message for the 62nd World Day of Prayer for Vocations, which the Church observes to foster awareness about the importance of vocations.

“Vocation is a precious gift that God sows in hearts, a call to step outside oneself to undertake a journey of love and service,” writes Francis in his address released by the Vatican on March 19.

The pope describes vocations on the solemnity of St. Joseph as developing through “trust in providence” and says Christian hope becomes “a certainty rooted in faith in God, who works in the history of every person.”

Meanwhile, Italian President Sergio Mattarella has congratulated Pope Francis on marking his 12th anniversary as pontiff.

“Together with me, the Italian people are grateful to you for these 12 years in which you have offered the most authentic witness of evangelical values, in constant service not only to the Catholic Church but to all humanity,” Mattarella writes, according to ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner.

The president recalls the pope’s contributions to international discussions on important issues.

“I wish to highlight the unprecedented points of reflection that your high magisterium has placed at the center of debate within important multilateral forums,” he notes, referencing the pope’s participation in U.N. climate conferences, G7 and G20 summits.

Mattarella mentions Francis’ “vibrant call to rediscover hope” and his advocacy against “the abandonment of logic based on force and prevarication.”

The president concludes his message by expressing gratitude for the pope’s attention to Italy and offering “sincere wishes for well-being in the continuation of the pontificate, along with heartfelt wishes for a prompt recovery.”

The Roman Rota tribunal leads the rosary prayer this evening with Archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo, the dean of the tribunal, presiding.

Pope Francis’ doctors have reduced his reliance on mechanical ventilation at night and high-flow oxygen therapy during the day, the Vatican says Tuesday evening.

The 88-year-old pope’s health remains stable but complex, with slight improvements in his respiratory and motor functions.

The Vatican confirmed that he did not require mechanical ventilation overnight on Monday but continued using high-flow nasal oxygen support. However, mechanical ventilation has not been completely suspended. 

Despite his condition, the pope continues his daily routine, including physiotherapy, work, and prayer. Pope Francis is following a diet prescribed by his doctors that consists of solid food.

A new medical bulletin is expected Wednesday at 7 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, the Vatican has not provided details regarding a potential visit from King Charles III, stating that such announcements are typically made closer to the date. A prepared catechesis is expected to be released tomorrow morning for Wednesday’s general audience.

Pope Francis, whose health remains “stable with slight improvements” according to the latest Vatican bulletin, reflects on how human fragility can provide clarity about life’s priorities in a letter written to an Italian newspaper.

“Human fragility has the power to make us more lucid about what endures and what passes, what brings life and what kills,” the 88-year-old pontiff writes in his message to Luciano Fontana, editor-in-chief of the Italian daily paper Corriere della Sera.

The letter, dated March 14 and written from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, responds to Fontana’s message of support during his illness.

“We must disarm words, to disarm minds and disarm the Earth,” Francis writes, asking the journalist to “relaunch and amplify his appeal for peace and disarmament.”

In the letter, the Holy Father addresses those working in media, emphasizing the critical role of thoughtful communication in a world connected by real-time technologies.

“Words are never just words: They are facts that shape human environments,” he writes. “They can connect or divide, serve the truth or use it for other ends.”

Despite his hospitalization, the papal letter shows Francis remains focused on his persistent calls for peace amid ongoing global conflicts, suggesting that “diplomacy and international organizations are in need of new vitality and credibility.”

“While war only devastates communities and the environment, without offering solutions to conflicts,” the pope writes, religions can help “rekindle the desire for fraternity and justice, the hope for peace.”

This evening, the Apostolic Penitentiary — the Vatican’s tribunal handling matters of forgiveness and penance — will lead the rosary prayer service, with Cardinal Angelo De Donatis serving as the prayer leader.

According to yesterday’s medical update from the Vatican Press Office, the pope “is using high-flow oxygenation with nasal cannulas less frequently and, at times, can do without oxygen therapy.”

Pope Francis’ medical condition remains “stable with slight improvements” with the help of respiratory and motor therapies, the Vatican says Monday evening.

“He is using high-flow oxygenation with nasal cannulas less frequently and, at times, can do without oxygen therapy. At night, he uses noninvasive mechanical ventilation,” the Holy See Press Offices statement reads.

Addressing concerns about the 88-year-old pontiff’s swollen hand that was visible in a photo released Sunday, the Vatican said “decreased mobility” was the cause for the swelling but that it “has already improved today.”

“The pope spent the day between prayer, rest, and doing some work,” the health update concludes.

The next medical bulletin will be released on Wednesday.

The Vatican has shared the first photo of Pope Francis since he entered Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Feb. 14.

“This morning, Pope Francis concelebrated holy Mass in the chapel of the 10th-floor apartment at the Gemelli Polyclinic,” according to a statement from the Vatican Press Office.

In the photo, the Holy Father can be seen seated before the altar of the chapel where he concelebrated the Eucharist. The Vatican also reported that “the pope’s condition remains stable” and after concelebrating Sunday Mass, “he is continuing with the prescribed therapies,” including respiratory and physical therapy.

Pope Francis did not receive any visitors Sunday, instead dedicating the day to “prayer, rest, and some work.”

The Vatican says Pope Francis’ condition remains “stable” and that the Holy Father’s therapies continue to show “further, gradual improvement.”

Francis still needs “hospital medical therapy, motor and respiratory physiotherapy,” the Vatican’s Saturday evening update says, though the pope’s high-flow oxygen therapy is “progressively reducing the need for noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night.”

The pope’s ongoing stable condition “confirm[s] the progress highlighted in the last week,” the Vatican says.

A Vatican source says the pope remains in “a clinical situation of stability, in a framework that remains complex.” The Holy Father spent Saturday doing prayer, therapy, rest, and some work.

Pope Francis’ health condition remains “stable yet complex” as his hospitalization at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital continues.

This evening, prayers for the pope’s recovery will continue as the Governorate of Vatican City State leads the nightly rosary. Monsignor Emilio Nappa, secretary-general, will guide the prayer service.

The 88-year-old pontiff continues to receive oxygen therapy and respiratory physiotherapy.

The Holy See Press Office announced yesterday it will now provide medical updates only when there is significant new information to share.

From his hospital room, the pontiff has approved another synodal process, according to Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops.

In a letter to Church leaders, Grech announces a special postsynodal ecclesial assembly scheduled for October 2028.

“The goal is not to add work upon work but to help Churches walk in a synodal style,” Grech writes.

The Holy See Press Office says on Friday that updates about Pope Francis’ health will be less frequent as his situation remains stable amid a slow recovery.

Medical bulletins written by the pope’s doctors nearly daily since the 88-year-old Francis’ admission to Gemelli Hospital 29 days ago will now be issued only when doctors feel there is new information to share, the press office says. The Holy See Press Office will now hold just an evening briefing for journalists, eliminating the morning briefing and morning message about how the pope’s night went.

After four weeks in the hospital for bronchitis and double pneumonia, doctors have said Pope Francis’ health condition remains complex while showing minor improvements.

The Italian postal service said this week it had seen a surge in the volume of letters for Pope Francis since the start of his hospitalization.

One sorting center is receiving up to 330 pounds more mail per day for the Vatican, and another Rome sorting center noted that “hundreds of letters” are arriving every week from around the world addressed to Pope Francis at Gemelli Hospital.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Francis’ health during a phone call March 14.

In a post on X, Zelenskyy wrote that in their phone call, “I wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery and thanked him for his prayers and moral support for our people, as well as for his efforts in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia.”

Marking a whole month in the hospital on Friday, Pope Francis is undergoing another morning of therapy for pneumonia, including oxygen treatment and respiratory physiotherapy, as his condition remains “stationary,” according to the Vatican.

A new medical bulletin will be issued this evening.

The recovering pontiff followed the conclusion of the spiritual exercises for Lent led by Capuchin Father Roberto Pasolini in the Paul VI Audience Hall via video link.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin celebrated a morning Mass for the pope with the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See.

In his homily reflecting on today’s Gospel reading, the Vatican secretary of state emphasizes the need to “disarm language” and move from confrontation to benevolence in a time of war.

“We gather in prayer this morning for the health of the Holy Father, that he may recover and return to us soon. We also wish to remember the 12th anniversary of his election to the pontificate, celebrated yesterday,” Parolin says during the Mass in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace.

The cardinal’s Lenten-themed homily includes several references to global current events, noting that “on our own we cannot manage, we need help, but it is also true that the Lord provides us with the means to realize his word.”

The rosary prayer service for the pope this evening will be led by Monsignor Lucio Adrian Ruiz, secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication.

On Thursday, Pope Francis marks the 12th anniversary of his papacy from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for pneumonia for nearly a month. 

Hospital staff commemorate the occasion by presenting the 88-year-old pontiff with a cake adorned with candles. Additionally, he receives hundreds of drawings, messages, and letters from children and well-wishers worldwide. 

The Vatican tells journalists that Pope Francis continued his medication regimen, motor physiotherapy, and high-flow oxygen therapy on Thursday morning. He participated in spiritual exercises and prayed in the hospital chapel. 

In the afternoon, he joined the Roman Curia’s spiritual exercises via video link to the Paul VI Hall and continued respiratory therapy. His clinical condition remains stable yet complex, according to the Vatican, with ongoing noninvasive mechanical ventilation at night and high-flow oxygenation during the day. 

Pope Francis spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he now has received treatment for pneumonia for nearly a month, the Holy See Press Office announces Thursday morning.

“The night passed restfully,” the Vatican states in a brief morning update without providing additional details about the pope’s condition.

On Wednesday evening, officials described his situation as “stable” within a “complex overall picture.”

Today marks the pontiff’s 26th night in the medical facility, where he continues participating in the Roman Curia’s Lenten retreat exercises via video connection from his hospital room.

The hospitalization coincides with a significant milestone in Francis’ papacy — the Argentine pontiff was elected on March 13, 2013, meaning he is spending the 12th anniversary of his election to the chair of Peter in medical care.

According to the Vatican, Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O Carm, prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, will lead the rosary prayer for the pontiff this evening. The nightly rosary has become a regular spiritual practice during the pope’s extended stay at the Gemelli Clinic.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, will celebrate a special Mass for the Holy Father on Friday, March 14, at 10:30 a.m. in the Pauline Chapel of the Apostolic Palace. The diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See will be present at the liturgy, which will be broadcast live via Vatican Media.

A new chest X-ray confirms there has been a slight improvement to Pope Francis’ lungs though his overall condition remains “complex” and “stationary,” a medical bulletin distributed by the Holy See Press Office says on Wednesday.

The latest medical update about the 88-year-old pope does not give a long-term prognosis. Francis continues to receive oxygen support day and night.

Also on Wednesday, the Holy See Press Office denies a statement by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I claiming that Pope Francis was confirmed to be planning a visit to Turkey in May for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

The press office said the Holy See has never mentioned a papal trip to Turkey, and while the visit is under consideration, it has never been officially announced.

The pontiff continues to spend his time doing physical and respiratory therapy, praying, and following via video the talks of the papal preacher Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap, for the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia. Pope Francis is not doing any work during the weeklong retreat, as is his custom, a Vatican source says.

There are no particular plans for celebrating the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate on March 13.

As Pope Francis perseveres through his hospital stay, the universal Church prepares to commemorate tomorrow’s 12th anniversary of his election to the papacy.

A medical bulletin is expected this evening following the recitation of the rosary, Vatican officials confirm on Wednesday morning.

The pope continues his prescribed therapies at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, including respiratory and active movement therapy.

According to midday updates from the Vatican Press Office, the Holy Father follows the curial spiritual exercises via video from his hospital room. On Monday, his medical team at Gemelli Hospital indicated that Francis is no longer in immediate danger, with signs of slight improvement, though his clinical situation remains complex.

“Not much else is known while awaiting the doctors’ assessment,” a Vatican source notes. Meanwhile, the faithful gather to pray in the plaza before the St. John Paul II statue at Gemelli, with Masses celebrated in the chapel at the main entrance.

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, will lead the rosary this evening at 6 p.m.

The 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate falls tomorrow, March 13, though no official Vatican celebrations are planned. However, many Catholic institutions are organizing Eucharistic celebrations to mark the occasion.

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is among those commemorating the anniversary, reports ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner.

On Thursday, Rector Fernando Puig will preside at a Mass at 12:45 p.m. in the Basilica of St. Apollinare to celebrate the milestone.

Puig reflects on the pope’s leadership: “In these years, Pope Francis’ magisterium has constantly called us to the centrality of proclaiming the Gospel, to witnessing mercy, and to an increasingly concrete commitment to the culture of encounter and hope. As the academic community of the Holy Cross, we renew our commitment to form priests, religious, and laity capable of carrying forward this mission with competence and a spirit of service.”

The pontiff has been hospitalized at the Gemelli Clinic since Feb. 14, with his most recent respiratory crisis occurring over a week ago. Since then, his condition has stabilized and recently shown improvement.

Pope Francis’ health has shown slight improvements, though his overall condition remains complex, the Holy See Press Office says Tuesday evening.

The 88-year-old pope received high-flow oxygen therapy on Tuesday afternoon as part of his ongoing treatment and remains on his prescribed medication.

Vatican sources confirmed that now that the pope’s condition has stabilized, his doctors have “lifted the prognosis,” indicating that Pope Francis is “no longer in immediate danger from the respiratory infection.”

The Vatican is currently not providing an estimate for when the pope may be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been hospitalized for nearly a month. A CT scan may be performed in the coming days to assess his pneumonia.

Pope Francis spent much of Tuesday afternoon in prayer, receiving the Eucharist and following the spiritual exercises for the annual Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia via livestream.

Due to the Roman Curia’s spiritual exercises, there is no general audience on the calendar for this week and therefore no catechesis will be released on Wednesday.

Pope Francis has rested well and continued his prescribed therapies this morning at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, according to the Vatican.

The Holy Father also participated in spiritual exercises via videoconference following the Lenten retreat led by Father Roberto Pasolini in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the pontiff prayed in the small chapel near his room on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital, where he has now been admitted for 26 days.

Due to the pope’s stable condition, no medical bulletin will be released this evening, though the Holy See Press Office will provide general updates to journalists as usual.

According to Vatican sources, the pope’s mood remains positive as he converses with staff caring for him. Medical teams noted yesterday that recent improvements have been “further strengthened,” as confirmed by blood work and the patient’s overall clinical condition.

Doctors have indicated Francis responds well to treatment but will need to remain hospitalized for “several more days.”

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, will lead tonight’s rosary for the pope at 6 p.m. Rome time.

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.

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.

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.

Pope Francis continues his treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he met this morning with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra from the Vatican Secretariat of State.

In a message released with today’s Angelus text, the pontiff expresses profound gratitude for the prayers of the faithful worldwide, saying he feels “carried and supported by all God’s people.”

Vatican sources report the pope had a restful night, followed by his morning routine of coffee and reading newspapers while continuing his prescribed treatments.

Meanwhile, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the papal almoner, will lead the rosary for the pope’s health tonight at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square.

Pope Francis continues to rest Sunday as he recovers from a respiratory illness, with Vatican officials reporting his condition remains stable following Friday’s bronchospasm episode.

“The night was tranquil, the pope is still resting,” the Holy See Press Office confirmed in a Sunday morning update.

The 88-year-old pontiff receives respiratory treatments at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, alternating between ventilation and oxygen therapy. According to the Vatican press office, the Holy Father shows no signs of infection and remains fever-free, with stable vital signs.

In a pastoral gesture that reflects concern for the pontiff’s health, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, papal almoner, will lead the recitation of the holy rosary this evening at 9 p.m. in St. Peter’s Square for the pope’s recovery.

Meanwhile, health care workers from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where the pope is receiving treatment, made their own pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, braving rain to pray for the pontiff and renew their commitment to care.

Due to his condition, today’s Angelus will be distributed in written form rather than delivered in person.

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, leads the rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica at 9 p.m. local time.

On Saturday, doctors, nurses, and health care workers from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital brave the rain on a jubilee pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Basilica, praying for Pope Francis and renewing their commitment to care. They pass through the Holy Door and attend Mass at the Vatican.

On Saturday evening, the Vatican reports Pope Francis is stable following Friday’s bronchospasm episode, though his prognosis remains reserved. The 88-year-old pontiff is receiving respiratory treatments at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The Holy Father has no fever and shows no signs of infection. His vital signs remain stable as he alternates between noninvasive ventilation and oxygen therapy. The pope has received the Eucharist today and is spending time in prayer.

Vatican officials confirm no further bronchospasm episodes have occurred. The prognosis remains reserved as doctors continue monitoring his condition carefully. Tomorrow’s Angelus will be distributed in written form rather than delivered in person.

Catholics worldwide are gathering for prayer vigils, with nightly rosaries continuing at St. Peter’s Square for the pontiff’s recovery.

Pope Francis spent a “peaceful night and is resting,” according to a succinct Saturday morning statement from the Holy See Press Office.

This update follows Friday’s concerning development when the 88-year-old pope began noninvasive ventilation at Gemelli Hospital after experiencing “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” that resulted in “a sudden worsening” of his respiratory condition, according to the Vatican.

The Holy Father’s condition had been described as “complex” with a “guarded” prognosis in earlier updates.

Catholics worldwide continue to pray for Pope Francis, with the nightly rosary vigil at St. Peter’s Square drawing faithful participants since the pontiff’s hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia in mid-February.

Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti, prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, will lead tonight’s rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at 9 p.m. local time. The nightly prayer vigil continues to draw cardinals residing in Rome, Vatican officials, and faithful from around the city.

On Friday night, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, led the recitation of the rosary, joined by other cardinals, Roman Curia leaders, and the faithful who gathered for the evening prayer in solidarity with the hospitalized pontiff.

Pope Francis’ health condition “still remains reserved” after he “presented an isolated crisis of bronchospasm,” the Holy See Press Office says in a statement Friday evening Rome time.

The event “resulted in an episode of vomiting with inhalation and sudden worsening of the respiratory picture,” the statement continues. The pope was “promptly bronchoaspirated and began noninvasive mechanical ventilation.” 

Pope Francis “remained alert and oriented at all times, cooperating with therapeutic maneuvers,” the statement says, noting that he received the Eucharist in the morning.

On Friday morning, Feb. 28, the Holy See Press Office reports that Pope Francis had a “calm” and restful 14th night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital as his treatment for bilateral pneumonia continues.

“As in recent days, the night passed calmly, and the pope is now resting,” the Vatican statement notes, providing the faithful with a brief but positive update on the pontiff’s condition.

Further updates are expected later in the morning, Rome time.

According to Thursday evening’s press release, the 88-year-old pontiff’s clinical picture continues to improve, though his medical situation remains “complex” and his prognosis “guarded.”

Meanwhile, the 9 p.m. rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square continues for the fifth consecutive evening on Friday, with Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, leading the prayers.

For the fourth night in a row the cardinals residing in Rome gather with hundreds of faithful in St. Peter’s Square at 9 p.m. for the recitation of the rosary for the health of Pope Francis.

The prayer is presided over by Cardinal Baldassare Reina, vicar general of the Diocese of Rome.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina celebrates Mass at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27, at the Church of San Marcello al Corso in Rome.

The church houses the crucifix that was used during the extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing on March 27, 2020, in St. Peter’s Square during the “Extraordinary Moment of Prayer in a Time of Epidemic” presided over by Pope Francis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The crucifix, so dear to the Holy Father, was invoked in prayer for the gift of health for the beloved bishop of Rome.

The Vatican in an update on Thursday evening Rome time says Pope Francis’ condition is “improving.” Due to his overall complex medical condition, however, the statement says “further days of clinical stability” are needed for a change in his current critical prognosis.

“Today he alternated high-flow oxygen therapy with a ventimask,” the statement says. After resting, on Thursday afternoon the Holy Father went to the chapel in his private apartment on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital in Rome for prayer and to receive the Eucharist before attending “to work activities,” the statement concludes.

Pope Francis is resting well at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been treated for a respiratory infection for 13 nights. Vatican officials report Thursday morning he “slept well overnight” and his condition is improving, though they maintain “the prognosis remains cautious.”

During his hospitalization, a touching letter the pope wrote to a grieving mother has surfaced. “Jesus, who weeps with us, will sow in our hearts all the answers we seek,” Francis wrote to Cinzia, whose 21-year-old son never returned home after an evening out in 2019.

Prayer vigils continue with the holy rosary scheduled for tonight at 9 p.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square, to be presided over by Cardinal Baldassare Reina.

Meanwhile, the Vatican has canceled the jubilee audience planned for Saturday, March 1, due to the pope’s continued hospitalization.

For the third night in a row, pilgrims gather at 9 p.m. to pray the rosary for Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican — the same place where almost five years ago Pope Francis prayed for the world during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic:

Wednesday’s evening rosary is led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

Pope Francis’ condition over the last day “has shown further slight improvement,” the Holy See Press Office states in an update Wednesday evening Rome time.

A chest CT scan performed at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday “showed a normal evolution of the pulmonary inflammatory picture,” the statement says. The mild kidney failure the pope has experienced “has receded.”

While the pope continues “high-flow oxygen therapy,” the statement says, he has not experienced any respiratory crises.

“While registering a slight improvement, the prognosis remains reserved,” the statement says.

Pope Francis received the Eucharist in the morning and “the afternoon was devoted to work activities,” the statement concludes.

The Holy See Press Office informs journalists Wednesday morning that Pope Francis has another quiet night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and continues to rest, as his condition remains critical but stable while receiving treatment for double pneumonia.

“The pope had a quiet night and is resting,” the Holy See Press Office tells journalists on Wednesday morning.

The Tuesday evening update on Pope Francis’ health notes that his “clinical condition remains critical but stable. There have been no acute respiratory episodes, and hemodynamic parameters continue to be stable.”

“In the evening, he underwent a scheduled CT scan to radiologically monitor the bilateral pneumonia.

Twice-daily statements have kept the faithful informed about the pope’s health since he was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Friday, Feb. 14, following a bout of bronchitis.

The 88-year-old is currently being treated for double pneumonia, and a health update last week noted that he is also showing signs of mild renal insufficiency, which appears to be under control.

A hospital Holy Hour is one of many prayer initiatives that have sprung up in the Eternal City as the pope remains in critical condition and the global Catholic community continues to offer fervent prayers for him.

The daily Holy Hour of Eucharistic adoration is being held just floors below where Pope Francis, 88, is receiving treatment for pneumonia and early-stage kidney failure — marking the most extended hospitalization of his pontificate.

Pope Francis continues to be in serious but stable condition as he concludes his 12th day in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican said.

In the latest communication on the 88-year-old pope’s health, issued on the evening of Feb. 25, doctors said his “clinical condition remains critical but stationary,” without any acute respiratory episodes.

It added that Francis’ hemodynamic parameters — that is, how his blood flows through the blood vessels — is also stable, and he underwent a follow-up CT scan on Tuesday to monitor his lungs following a pneumonia diagnosis last week.

After receiving the Eucharist in the morning, Pope Francis also “resumed work activities,” the message concluded.

Pope Francis spent a peaceful 11th night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, with Vatican officials reporting Tuesday morning that the pontiff “rested well throughout the night.”

The brief statement follows Monday evening’s announcement from the Vatican press office indicating a “slight improvement” in what they continue to describe as the Holy Father’s “critical health condition.”

Hundreds of Catholics gathered in Rome on Monday evening for the first scheduled prayer service in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ health and recovery.

According to Vatican sources, Francis has experienced no further episodes of respiratory distress since his last reported asthmatic episode on Saturday. While oxygen therapy continues, officials confirmed it has been “slightly reduced” in intensity.

The pontiff was admitted to Gemelli Hospital 11 days ago, requiring careful and continuous monitoring by medical staff.

EWTN News White House Correspondent Owen Jensen asks President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting the White House for meetings on Monday, if they had a message for Pope Francis:

Hundreds of Catholics gather in Rome on Monday evening for the first scheduled prayer service in St. Peter’s Square for Pope Francis’ health and recovery.

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin leads the inaugural gathering, which is scheduled to take place nightly at 9 p.m., organized by cardinals living in Rome.

Present at the rosary on Monday are Cardinals Becciu, Muller, Ouellet, Prevost, Versaldi, De Mendonca, Baggio, Artime, Feroci, Bagnasco, Marchetto, Burke, Semeraro, Tagle, Arinze, You Heung Sik, Re, Roche, Reina, and Frezza.

The crowd sings the Salve Regina at the end of the service:

Pope Francis’ condition remains serious but has shown “slight improvement” as he continues treatment on his 11th day in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican said Monday evening.

The 88-year-old pontiff is still receiving oxygen therapy through his nose, though at a slightly reduced flow and concentration, according to the Holy See Press Office.

Doctors reported no further episodes of respiratory distress following a “respiratory crisis” on Saturday. Some of the pope’s laboratory tests have improved, and his “mild kidney insufficiency” remains under observation but is not a cause for concern, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis received the Eucharist on Monday morning and resumed some work in the afternoon. Later in the day, he called the parish priest in Gaza to express his solidarity.

Prayers for the pope’s recovery have continued worldwide since he was admitted to the hospital on Feb. 14. 

At Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where Francis is being treated, the chaplain led prayers and Eucharistic adoration at the St. John Paul II Chapel on Monday, followed by a Mass.

The Vatican announces a new prayer initiative for Pope Francis, with cardinals leading a nightly rosary in St. Peter’s Square starting at 9 p.m. Rome time today. Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, will preside over tonight’s first gathering.

While his condition remains critical, Vatican sources report on Monday the Holy Father had a “peaceful night” and is “in good spirits” at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The pope continues to receive supplemental oxygen and is being monitored for mild early-stage kidney insufficiency. Both conditions are currently under control, following Saturday’s concerning episode that required a blood transfusion due to anemia.

For those wanting to join the cardinals and other Catholics in the rosary for the pontiff, the prayer will be broadcast live on all EWTN television channels worldwide and through the network’s digital platforms, including the EWTN app and YouTube channel.

Pope Francis spends a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Holy See Press Office tells journalists Monday morning.

”The night went well, the Pope has slept and is resting,” the Vatican says in its latest update on the pontiff’s condition.

Prayers for the pope's recovery continue across Rome, where Cardinal Baldassare Reina celebrated Mass Sunday at the Basilica of St. John Lateran for the Holy Father’s recovery.

Pope Francis also received dozens of get-well cards and hand-drawn greetings from schoolchildren in Rome on Sunday.

Pope Francis’ condition “remains critical,” the Holy See Press Office says in a statement issued Sunday evening Rome time. However, it says he experienced “no further respiratory crisis” since Saturday.

The statement also says the Holy Father “continues to be alert and well oriented” and continues to receive oxygen therapy “at high flows” through his nose.

Since his situation is “complex,” the statement says, the pope’s prognosis “remains reserved.” His blood platelet count remained stable, the statement continues, but some blood tests showed “initial, mild, renal [kidney] failure” that is presently under control.

This morning the pope participated in Mass along with those who are caring for him at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, the statement said.

From Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis marks the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling it a “painful and shameful occasion for the whole of humanity.”

In a message released Sunday by the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff expresses solidarity with Ukraine and calls for prayers for conflict zones, including Palestine, Israel, Myanmar, and Sudan.

“Rest is also part of the therapy!” he says of his own condition, thanking medical staff for their care.

The pontiff acknowledges the ordination of 23 new permanent deacons at St. Peter’s Basilica, where Archbishop Rino Fisichella presided over the ceremony for the Jubilee of Deacons in the pope’s absence.

Francis had special words for the newly ordained deacons: “Dear brother deacons, you dedicate yourselves to the Word and to the service of charity; you carry out your ministry in the Church with words and deeds, bringing God’s love and mercy to everyone.”

Vatican sources confirm the pope continues to require supplemental oxygen following Saturday’s respiratory crisis. He also received a blood transfusion for platelet deficiency. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni reports the pope spent an uneventful ninth night at the hospital.

The Holy Father has spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Holy See Press Office reports Sunday morning.

“The night passed uneventfully, the pope rested,” the Vatican tells journalists.

The terse update comes as Pope Francis remains in critical condition following a respiratory crisis on Saturday that required high-flow oxygen therapy and a blood transfusion.

The Holy See Press Office releases a new medical bulletin on Saturday evening stating that Pope Francis had experienced “an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity” that required high-flow oxygen therapy.

The Holy Father also received a blood transfusion, the Vatican said.

In the afternoon, religious sisters, clergy, and faithful gathered outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome to pray for Pope Francis.

The Vatican is expected to provide another medical update Saturday evening on Pope Francis, who continues to receive treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where physicians have indicated the pope’s condition remains serious.

In a terse statement earlier Saturday, Vatican physicians caring for the 88-year-old pontiff confirmed the news from doctors on Friday that “the pope is not out of danger,” tempering expectations about a quick recovery.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella will celebrate the jubilee Mass for deacons on behalf of Pope Francis, the Vatican confirmed, as the Holy Father remains under medical supervision.

Pope Francis is “not out of danger” due to his age and fragile health, his medical team tells journalists on Friday. 

During a Vatican press conference at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, both Dr. Sergio Alfieri, head of Gemelli Hospital’s medical team, and Dr. Luigi Carbone, the pope’s referring doctor at the Vatican, say the 88-year-old Holy Father must remain in the hospital for “enhanced” treatment.

“The hospitalization will be as long as it takes for him to return safely to Santa Marta [his Vatican residence],” Alfieri tells journalists on Friday. “He will stay here at least all next week. He is better, but the situation may change. Here at Gemelli, he is a very good patient.” 

Local Catholics and jubilee pilgrims in Rome say they are praying for Pope Francis’ recovery as he marks one week in the hospital for treatment for pneumonia and bronchitis.

Pilgrim groups and individuals from around the world continue to travel to Rome for the 2025 Jubilee Year, and though they won’t catch a glimpse of the pontiff, he is close to their hearts.

Pope Francis marks a full week at Rome’s Gemelli hospital today, where he spent “a good night” and “got up and had breakfast,” the Vatican says Friday morning.

The pope’s daily routine at the hospital includes breakfast, reading, prayer, and necessary therapy, according to Vatican Press Office Director Matteo Bruni.

Medical staff are carefully evaluating potential side effects of the treatment, given the pontiff’s age — he is 88 years old — and existing health conditions.

The positive progress noted in Friday’s update from the Holy See Press Office follows Thursday’s report of a “quiet night” as the pope continues treatment for bilateral pneumonia that has prompted the cancellation of several weekend jubilee celebrations.

The Vatican confirms it is likely Pope Francis will not recite the Sunday Angelus this weekend, though no final decision has been announced. Officials emphasize that the pope remains alert and able to carry out essential work.

Speaking on Pope Francis’ current health crisis, Jesuit Father Antonio Spadaro, a personal friend of the Holy Father, said in an interview on Wednesday that “the situation is delicate, but I [haven’t] seen any cause for alarm.”

“Francis is an 88-year-old man who has had a serious problem but who is now undergoing treatment. It’s not a simple treatment and will require time,” said Spadaro, 58, who for 12 years was director of the Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica (Catholic Civilization) and is currently undersecretary of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education. He emphasized that the pontiff has “an extraordinary vital energy.”

“He is not someone who lets go or gives in easily, and that’s a very positive aspect; we have seen this in the past as well,” he said in an interview with the Italian daily Il Corriere della Sera (The Evening Courier).

Pope Francis spends “a peaceful night” at Rome‘s Gemelli Hospital and has breakfast while sitting in an armchair on Thursday morning, the Vatican tells journalists on Feb. 20.

The brief bulletin from the Holy See Press Office suggests the pope’s gradual progress as he enters his seventh day of treatment that has prompted the cancellation of several upcoming events including weekend jubilee celebrations.

The Vatican on Wednesday afternoon said Pope Francis showed a “slight improvement” as he continues a stay in the hospital.

The Holy See said blood tests showed fewer inflammatory markers as the Holy Father continues to fight off a case of double pneumonia.

The pope first entered the hospital on Friday after struggling with bronchitis for several days.

He was visited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni earlier on Wednesday; the politician said the pope was “alert and responsive” and that the two “joked as always.”

Francis has continued to ask for prayers while in the hospital.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has visited Pope Francis at Gemelli Hospital, where he is receiving treatment for double pneumonia and other respiratory infections.

According to the prime minister’s office, Meloni wished the pope a quick recovery on behalf of the Italian government and the whole country.

The Italian prime minister said she found Francis “alert and responsive,” adding that “we joked as always. He has not lost his legendary sense of humor.”

The Diocese of Rome has called for the city’s parishes and religious communities to hold an hour of silent adoration for Pope Francis’ healing before evening Masses on Feb. 19. “As one big family we ask that the Lord will give our bishop the strength he needs to face this delicate moment,” Cardinal Baldassare Reina said.

A Vatican source said Wednesday morning that Pope Francis does not need supplemental oxygen, that is heart is holding up well, and he is able to occasionally sit in an armchair. 

Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is also expected to visit the pope on Wednesday.

As Pope Francis continues treatment for bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, the Vatican tells journalists on Wednesday morning he spent “a quiet night” and “woke up and had breakfast.”

The brief Vatican update comes as the pope undergoes additional therapy following Tuesday’s diagnosis of bilateral pneumonia, which has prompted the cancellation of several upcoming events including weekend jubilee celebrations.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, on Tuesday joined calls for prayers for the Holy Father’s recovery.

The Vatican on Tuesday said tests earlier in the afternoon showed Pope Francis had developed “bilateral” or double pneumonia, leading doctors to prescribe additional treatment for the Holy Father.

“Laboratory tests, [a] chest X-ray, and the Holy Father’s clinical condition continue to present a complex picture,” a statement from the Holy See Press Office said.

The pope underwent a chest CT scan on Tuesday afternoon, the Vatican said, with the results showing “the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy.”

The pope remains “in good spirits,” the Holy See noted.

“This morning he received the Eucharist, and throughout the day he alternated rest with prayer and reading texts. He gives thanks for the closeness he feels at this time and asks, with a grateful heart, that we continue to pray for him,” the statement said.

The pope continues to postpone public appearances as his respiratory infection persists, with the Vatican announcing Tuesday the cancellation of Saturday’s jubilee audience and the delegation of Sunday’s special Mass.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, will celebrate the Mass for the Jubilee of Deacons scheduled for 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 23, in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy See Press Office tells journalists Feb. 18.

Pope Francis remains in stable condition and spent his fourth day in the hospital praying, reading, and doing some work, according to the latest health update released by the Vatican on Monday night.

The 88-year-old pope is without a fever as he continues to receive treatment for a polymicrobial respiratory infection. He received the Eucharist, did some reading, and “dedicated himself to some work activities” on Monday.

“Pope Francis is touched by the numerous messages of affection and closeness that he continues to receive in these hours,” the Vatican statement said. The pope expressed particular gratitude for the well wishes he received from his fellow patients in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital and asked for continued prayers. 

The Holy See Press Office announces that tests conducted in recent days have shown the pope is battling a polymicrobial respiratory infection that requires physicians to modify his treatment plan.

All diagnostic results indicate a complex clinical situation that will require “an appropriate hospital stay” at Rome”s Gemelli hospital, Vatican officials say.

The general audience for Wednesday, Feb. 19, has been canceled.

Pope Francis has spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli hospital and continues his recovery today, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni tells journalists at the Holy See Press Office.

“The Holy Father has rested well and had breakfast,” Bruni says, adding that the pope has been reading newspapers this morning. Further medical updates are expected Monday afternoon.

Despite being hospitalized, Pope Francis has continued his regular calls to Gaza’s Holy Family Parish, Italian broadcaster TGCom24 reported on Monday.

The pontiff spoke with parish priest Father Gabriel Romanelli and his deputy, Father Yusuf Asad, on Friday and Saturday.

The pope’s positive progress prompts particular attention as he undergoes additional diagnostic tests today. He has been receiving treatment at Gemelli Hospital since Friday for bronchitis symptoms that have persisted for more than 10 days. All weekend activities were canceled due to his condition.

As he prepares to spend his third night in Gemelli Hospital, the Holy Father remains in stable condition as he continues the therapeutic diagnostic process prescribed by the medical staff.

This morning the pope received the Eucharist and followed Mass on television. He spent the afternoon alternating between reading and resting, according to the Holy See Press Office.

Pope Francis “rested well through the night” and had “no febrile episodes,” as he continues treatment for bronchitis at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni told journalists Sunday morning.

“After a peaceful night, the Holy Father had breakfast and reads several newspapers, as is his habit,” Bruni added. Medical assessments and necessary treatments are continuing.

While doctors have prescribed complete rest, the 88-year-old pontiff prepared a special Angelus message for publication, focusing on art’s power to unite humanity and including prayers for regions torn by conflict.

Pope Francis “rested all night” and presented “no febrile episodes,” the Vatican says as the Holy Father continues to recover from bronchitis at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital.

The pope had been admitted to the hospital on Friday after suffering from bronchitis for several days. He was found to have a respiratory tract infection and a slight fever upon admittance.

Following his overnight stay, the pope's treatment was “slightly modified” after “further microbiological findings,” the Vatican says, adding that Saturday's tests “found improvement in some values.”

“During the morning he received holy Eucharist, then alternated rest with prayer and reading,“ the Vatican says.

“To facilitate the recovery, the medical staff prescribed absolute rest; therefore, on tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 16, the Holy Father will not lead the Angelus prayer; nevertheless, he intended to send the text for its publication,“ the Holy See Press Office adds.

The pope “has been updated of the many messages of closeness and affection received and expresses his gratitude, while asking for continued prayers for him,“ the Vatican says.

Pope Francis spends a “peaceful night” and reads several newspapers Saturday morning following his admission to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for bronchitis, according to the Vatican.

“The Holy Father had a good night’s sleep. This morning he had breakfast and read several newspapers,” Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, tells journalists Feb. 15.

“Medical assessments and necessary treatments are continuing.”

The Holy See Press Office releases an update on the pope’s condition: “The first examinations performed show a respiratory tract infection. The clinical condition is fair; he presents mild febrile alteration.”

The pope is serene, his mood is good, and he has read a few newspapers, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office.

Catholic leaders across the U.S. and the world unite in prayer Friday for Pope Francis after it was reported the 88-year-old had been hospitalized with bronchitis. 

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) shares on social media that the bishops “join in prayer for the Holy Father during his hospitalization.”

The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word, the community of friars founded in 1987 by Mother Angelica, also offers a prayer for Pope Francis:

Pope Francis has spent much of the past decade as pope in relatively good health but has dealt with several painful medical conditions over the last few years.

The respiratory infection is the latest health challenge for the 88-year-old pope, who has been struggling with breathlessness, which has prevented him on several recent occasions from reading the entirety of his speech or homily.

The pope was also treated for a contusion on his right forearm after falling at his residence last month and suffered a facial injury and cold during the Christmas season.

Here is a timeline charting Pope Francis’ recent health concerns.

The Vatican says the pontiff’s schedule was cleared through at least the morning of Feb. 17 while he undergoes “diagnostic tests” and treatment.

The Vatican also says that due to Pope Francis’ hospitalization, his appointments for the following three days were canceled. In particular, he will no longer hold a jubilee audience at the Vatican on Saturday, Feb. 15, or a meeting with artists at the historic Cinecittà film studios south of Rome on Feb. 17.

Pope Francis is admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said.

The 88-year-old pope was hospitalized in the late morning on Feb. 14 following meetings with a number of people, including the prime minister of Slovakia, Robert Fico.