Latest news about Pope Francis' health

Pope Francis has faced numerous health challenges in recent years, and yet still has maintained a busy schedule of meetings, Masses, and travel since 2020.

The Latest

Pope Francis speaks at his Wednesday audience in Paul VI Hall on Nov. 29, 2023.

Pope Francis says he is ‘still not well,’ has aide read general audience speech

Nov 29, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis, who turns 87 in December, spoke softly into a microphone as he explained that he was “still not... Read more

Pope Francis meets with the Spanish bishops at the Vatican on Nov. 28, 2023.

The pope didn’t summon Spain’s bishops to ‘chew them out,’ Cardinal Omella says

Nov 28, 2023

By Almudena Martínez-Bordiú

Pope Francis met with Spanish bishops at the Vatican today to inform them of the conclusions of the apostolic visit... Read more

Pope Francis pictured on Nov. 27, 2023. The pope felt well enough to keep his scheduled appointment with the president of Paraguay on Monday morning as he recovers from the flu.

Pope Francis’ health ‘stable’ despite breathing difficulties, Vatican says

Nov 27, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The 86-year-old pope is being treated with antibiotics intravenously and is in “good and stable” condition without a fever, a... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience earlier this week on Nov. 22, 2023.

UPDATE: Pope Francis has ‘mild flu,’ went to hospital for precautionary testing

Nov 25, 2023

By Jonathan Liedl

The pope, who turns 87 next month, has experienced a number of medical setbacks in recent years. Read more

Pope Francis registers for World Youth Day 2023 at the end of his Angelus address on Oct. 23, 2022.

Pope Francis says poor health won’t keep him away from World Youth Day 2023

Jun 22, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

In a new video, Pope Francis held up a gray, WYD-branded backpack and said, “I’m ready! I already have everything... Read more

Pope Francis appeared in the window of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace on Sunday, June 18 to make his first public speech since his release from the hospital.

Pope Francis makes first public speech since hospitalization for abdominal surgery

Jun 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The 86-year-old pope smiled and waved from the window of the Apostolic Palace as he gave thanks for prayers and... Read more

The family of Miguel Ángel, the child baptized by Pope Francis at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on March 31, 2023.

‘I received a miracle,’ says mother of baby baptized by Pope Francis at hospital in March

Jun 17, 2023

By Ary Waldir Ramos Díaz

The story of a Peruvian immigrant family in Italy has come to light during the convalescence of Pope Francis at... Read more

Pope Francis left Rome's Gemelli Hospital shortly before 9:00 a.m. on June 16, 2023. Before returning to the Vatican, he stopped to pray in front of the historic Marian icon of Salus Populi Romani at St. Mary Major Basilica, and made a quick visit to a group of religious sisters close to St. Peter's Square.

PHOTOS: Pope Francis returns to Vatican after surgery

Jun 16, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis was applauded by onlookers as he left Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Friday morning. Read more

This photograph taken on June 11, 2023, shows the statue of the late Pope John Paul II at the entrance to the Gemelli hospital in Rome. Pope Francis underwent an operation for an abdominal hernia on June 7, 2023, at the Rome hospital.

Vatican: Pope Francis’ doctors plan to discharge him from hospital ‘in the next few days’

Jun 14, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The 86-year-old pope is currently recovering in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital one week after he underwent a three-hour surgery for an... Read more

Dr. Sergio Alfieri (left), Pope Francis' surgeon, and Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruno hold a press conference Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.

Pope Francis praying and working from hospital

Jun 12, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican said Monday that Pope Francis is working from the hospital as he recovers from hernia surgery. Read more

Pope Francis on the morning of June 7, 2023 shortly before heading to the hospital for abdominal surgery greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis sends message from hospital to European political party

Jun 11, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a letter to the European People’s Party, the pope urged politicians to be united on “issues where primary ethical... Read more

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Pope Francis will not pray public Angelus from hospital on Sunday

Jun 10, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

A Vatican spokesman said Pope Francis would pray the Angelus privately at noon in his hospital room. Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St. Peter's Square on May 17, 2023.

Pope Francis making normal progress in recovery from abdominal surgery

Jun 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“The medical team reports that the clinical picture is steadily improving and the postoperative progress is normal.” Read more

A photograph shows an outside view of the Gemelli hospital in Rome on June 8, 2023, where Pope Francis has been hospitalized following an operation for an abdominal hernia on June 7.

Pope Francis stable, receives poster from family of baby he baptized in hospital in March

Jun 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

According a Vatican spokesman, medical staff caring for the pope shared that his “postoperative course is regular.” Read more

A large statue of St. John Paul II at the entrance of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is recovering from surgery he underwent on June 7, 2023.

Pope Francis is recovering in same hospital room where John Paul II was treated

Jun 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis is recovering from abdominal surgery this week in the same hospital room where St. John Paul II was... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience in St Peter’s Square on May 31, 2023.

Pope Francis in ‘good general condition’ one day after abdominal surgery

Jun 8, 2023

By Courtney Mares

In a surgery lasting three hours on June 7, a team of surgeons operated on a hernia in the pope’s... Read more

Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the lead surgeon for Pope Francis' abdominal surgery, speaks at a press conference at Gemelli Hospital on June 7, 2023.

Surgeon: Pope Francis ‘well, awake, alert’ after operation

Jun 7, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis is awake after reacting well to both the surgery and general anesthetic, an Italian surgeon said Wednesday afternoon. Read more

Pope Francis at his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square June 7, 2023.

Vatican: Pope Francis out of surgery, recovering in hospital

Jun 7, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The Vatican said Wednesday evening that Pope Francis is out of surgery and the abdominal operation he underwent “took place... Read more

Pope Francis on the morning of June 7, 2023 shortly before heading to the hospital for abdominal surgery greets pilgrims at his general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Pope Francis’ appointments canceled until June 18, Italian diocese says

Jun 7, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis’ audiences have been canceled until June 18, an Italian Catholic diocese said Wednesday, citing the Prefecture of the... Read more

Pope Francis prayed before a relic of St. Therese of Lisieux at the beginning of his general audience in St. Peter's Square, and shortly before going to the hospital for an abdominal surgery, on June 7, 2023.

Pope Francis prayed with relic of St. Thérèse of Lisieux before surgery

Jun 7, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

One of Pope Francis’ last gestures before undergoing abdominal surgery was to pray before a relic of St. Thérèse of... Read more

Latest news

Pope Francis looks out at the crowd gathered below his hospital window at Rome's Gemelli Hospital on March 23, 2025.

Missionaries of Mercy gather in Rome as Pope Francis praises their ‘ministry of forgiveness’

Speakers present at the briefing presenting the report “Attacks on Christians in Israel and East Jerusalem” by the Rossing Center on March 27, 2025. From left to right: Hana Bendcowsky, director of the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations at the Rossing Center; Bernard Sabella, a retired professor of sociology; Federica Sasso (Rossing Center)), moderator, Hussam Elias, executive director of the project; and Jesuit Father David Neuhaus.

Christian communities in Israel face growing hostility, annual report reveals

Mural of Archbishop Oscar Romero,

Nunciature in El Salvador issues correction for liturgical abuse

Bishop Christian Carlassare (center), President Salva Kiir (left), and Dr. Riek Machar (right).

Bishop calls for peace in South Sudan as country’s first vice president reportedly arrested

Launched in March 2025, St. Claret Maternity Center in the Nyabwina village serves the local region in the Sheema/Mbarara District of Uganda.

Inspired by John Paul II, Catholic maternal health organization celebrates 30 years

St. Paul’s Chaldean Catholic Cathedral in Mosul, Iraq.

Cardinal calls on Iraqi Christians to vote for fellow Christians in upcoming elections

The Kansas Capitol in Topeka.

Leader of ‘black mass’ arrested at Kansas Capitol after punching protester

CNA

New York official blocks Texas order against doctor who mailed abortion pills into state

“People need genuine compassion and choices, not the false choice of pain or poison,” says Jim Towey, founder and president of Aging with Dignity, the organization behind a new watchdog effort to monitor and oppose the expansion of assisted suicide throughout the United States.

Watchdog effort launches to oppose assisted suicide in U.S.

A wildfire blazes next to a stone lantern of family tomb in Andong, South Korea, on March 26, 2025. At least 18 people have been killed in one of South Korea’s worst wildfire outbreaks, with multiple blazes burning and causing “unprecedented damage,” the acting president said.

Pope Francis sends condolences after South Korea wildfires destroy thousands of homes

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