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A makeshift shrine with devotional candles, flowers, and images of Pope Francis appears outside Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb. 22, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Presents with "sudden worsening of the respiratory picture" on Friday: Vatican Updates

Mar 1, 2025

By CNA Staff

Here’s the latest news on Pope Francis’ health and hospitalization.

Credit: PACTPAN

Time to “return the love” as Catholics in Africa Gather Online to Pray for Pope Francis’ Recovery

Feb 28, 2025

By Agnes Aineah

Catholics from across Africa gathered online for one hour to pray for Pope Francis, who is being treated for double pneumonia since February 14. Latest reports on the health situation of the Holy Father indicate a “sudden worsening of the respiratory picture”.

Communications Officer for Regional Bishops’ Conference in Africa Reminisces about Past with Pope Francis, Prays for Him

Feb 28, 2025

By ACI Africa Staff

Sheila Leocádia Pires, the Mozambican-born journalist who serves as the Communications Officer of the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) is praying for the recovery of the ailing Holy Father, Pope Francis, with whom she says she shared light moments on the sidelines of the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality gatherings, where she served as Secretary of the Commission for Information.

Catholic Bishops Decry Rights Violation in DR Congo after Conference Official’s Passport Confiscated at Airport

Feb 28, 2025

By Sabrine Amboka

Catholic Bishops in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have raised alarm over rising violations of the freedom of movement in the Central African nation after an incident involving the Secretary General of their Conference.

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Catholic Bishop of Lesotho’s Leribe Diocese, Appoints Successor

Feb 28, 2025

By Silas Isenjia

Pope Francis has accepted the retirement of Bishop Augustinus Tumaole Bane from the pastoral care of the Catholic Diocese of Leribe in Lesotho and appointed Mons. Vitalis Sekhonyana Marole, currently serving as Parish Priest of Moya and St. Matthew in the Archdiocese of Pretoria, as his successor.

The chapel at Gemelli Hosptial in Rome bears the name and contains a relic of another pope who knew these corridors well: St. John Paul II. The Polish pontiff was hospitalized here multiple times, including after an assassination attempt in 1981. | Credit: Courtney Mares/CNA

Pope Francis Ventilated after "sudden worsening" of Respiratory Condition

Feb 28, 2025

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis began noninvasive ventilation on Friday after experiencing a respiratory crisis that led to a “sudden worsening” of his condition, the Vatican said.

Today, February 28, We Celebrate Blessed Villana de'Botti

Feb 28, 2025

Villana de’Botti was a wife and a Third Order Dominican. She was born in Florence in 1332. 

People pray at the statue of John Paul II outside Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is hospitalized with pneumonia, on Feb. 27, 2025. / Credit: DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis’ Medical Condition Continues to Improve, "further days of clinical stability are needed": Vatican Updates

Feb 28, 2025

By Kristina Millare

“Due to the complexity of the clinical picture, further days of clinical stability are needed to clarify the prognosis,” the Vatican said Thursday.

Credit: SECAM

Catholic Bishops in Africa Meeting Other Faith, Civil Society Groups to Chart Way Forward after Historical Injustices

Feb 27, 2025

By Silas Isenjia

Top on the agenda for members of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) who are engaging with other faith-based groups and ethical communities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, is how to heal from the historical injustices the continent has suffered from.

Bishop Sosthène Léopold Bayemi Matjei of the Catholic Diocese of Obala in Cameroon. Credit: ACI Africa

“We have to work hard to change Cameroon”: Bishop to Catholics amid Challenges, October Presidential Election

Feb 27, 2025

By Jude Atemanke

The President of the Episcopal Commission for Communication at the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon (NECC) has urged Catholics in the Central African nation to embrace their role as bearers of hope and work diligently to transform the country that is gearing up for a presidential election later this year.

“You’re true reference point for civilization of truth, love”: Catholic Bishop in Malawi to Parish Priests

Feb 27, 2025

By Silas Isenjia

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chikwawa in Malawi has called upon Parish Priests in his Episcopal See to live up to their identity as bearers of “truth and love in this world”, guarding the people of God under their pastoral care against falsehood.

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Abuja. Credit: Archdiocese of Abuja

Nigeria’s Catholics Challenged to Embrace “radical forgiveness” amid Provocation from Other Faiths

Feb 27, 2025

By ACI Africa Staff

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Nigeria’s Archdiocese of Abuja has challenged Catholics in the West African nation to extend “radical forgiveness” to those who seek to provoke them by criticizing their faith.

Sr. Marcelline Manga and Fr. Aurélien Léhoun Mbéa. Credit: ACI Africa

“Our Church needs us”: Catholic Communicators in Cameroon Urged to Persevere in Their Media Apostolate

Feb 27, 2025

By Jude Atemanke

Catholic communicators in Cameroon have been urged to remain steadfast in their media apostolate, keeping in mind their role in fostering hope, solidarity, and peace in society.

Today, February 27, we celebrate Blessed Maria Caridad Brader

Feb 27, 2025

Mother Maria Caridad Brader was born into a pious family in Kaltburn, Switzerland, in 1860.

In Get-Well-Soon Wishes, Theologians in Africa Pour their Hearts Out to Pope Francis

Feb 27, 2025

By Agnes Aineah

Members of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN) are reflecting on Pope Francis’ simplicity, humility, servant leadership and sense of humour as they continue to pray for his recovery. 

People pray at the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli Hospital, where Pope Francis is hospitalized with pneumonia, in Rome on Feb. 26, 2025. / Credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images

Pope Francis’ Early-stage Kidney Insufficiency "subsided" on Wednesday: Vatican Updates

Feb 27, 2025

By Kristina Millare

“The Holy Father's clinical condition over the past 24 hours has shown further slight improvement,” the Holy See Press Office stated.

Catholic Bishops in Benin, DR Congo, Mozambique Appeal for Spiritual Solidarity with Pope Francis

Feb 27, 2025

By Silas Isenjia

Catholic Bishops in Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Mozambique are among Church leaders in Africa appealing for prayers for Pope Francis, who was admitted in hospital on February 14 and later diagnosed with double pneumonia. 

Fr. Walter Chikwendu Ihejirika. Credit: Catholic Diocese of Ahiara

Thank You, Pope Francis, for Making “your sick bed a channel” of Evangelization: SIGNIS Africa President

Feb 27, 2025

By Agnes Aineah

The President of the African region of the World Catholic Association for Communication, SIGNIS Africa, has penned a moving letter to Pope Francis, lauding him for using every opportunity to evangelize, including his time in the hospital, where he is being treated for double pneumonia since February 14.

Mons. Josaphat Jackson Bududu, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Tanzania’s Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora. Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania

Vicar for Consecrated Life in Tanzania’s Tabora Catholic Archdiocese Appointed Auxiliary Bishop

Feb 27, 2025

By Silas Isenjia

Pope Francis has appointed Mons. Josaphat Jackson Bududu as Auxiliary Bishop of Tanzania’s Catholic Archdiocese of Tabora, where Protase Cardinal Rugambwa is the Local Ordinary.

Fr. Telmo Serôdio addressing Catholic journalists and media practitioners in São Tomé e Príncipe. Credit: Radio Jubilar

São Tomé and Príncipe’s Catholic Journalists, Media Practitioners Urged to “be communicators of hope”

Feb 26, 2025

By João Vissesse

Catholic Journalists and media practitioners in São Tomé and Príncipe have been challenged to be bearers of hope amid pervasive disinformation and polarization, and in certain situations, misinformation.