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Pope Francis waves from a balcony at Gemelli Hospital in Rome on Sunday, March 23, 2025, following weeks of hospitalization for bilateral pneumonia. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Discharged from Hospital, Returns to Vatican after Making First Public Appearance in Weeks

Mar 23, 2025

The moment marked his first public engagement in weeks.

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Oct. 5, 2016. / Credit: Daniel Ibanez/CNA

A Timeline of Pope Francis’ 12 years As Pope: Photos

Mar 13, 2025

Pope Francis is the 265th successor of St. Peter. Here is a timeline of key events during his papacy.

Pope Francis is hugged by a young visitor at his general audience at the Vatican, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. / Credit: Vatican Media

Pope Francis Thanks Pro-life Pilgrims on Movement for Life Golden Jubilee, Lauds Dedication to “service of human life”

Mar 8, 2025

The 88-year-old pontiff thanked the pro-life pilgrims on their organization’s 50th anniversary, praising their concrete support for mothers experiencing difficult pregnancies.

In a prerecorded audio message, Pope Francis thanked those gathered for the rosary prayer service in St. Peter’s Square on Thursday night, March 6, 2025.

In Prerecorded Message, Pope Francis Voices Thanks to Participants in Prayer in St. Peter’s Square Thursday Night

Mar 6, 2025

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. 

Cardinal Angelo De Donatis sprinkles ashes during the celebration of Mass on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at the Basilica of Santa Sabina located on Rome’s Aventine Hill. / Credit: Vatican Media

Lent, Time to Accept Our Fragility, "rekindle our hope" in Jesus: Pope Francis in Homily Prepared for Ash Wednesday

Mar 5, 2025

“Made of ashes and earth, we experience fragility through illness, poverty, and the hardships that can suddenly befall us and our families,” the pope said. 

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 Rests Well, Drinks Coffee, Reads Newspapers as Pneumonia Treatment Progresses

Mar 3, 2025

Recovery for the 88-year-old Holy Father “will certainly not be imminent,” Vatican officials cautioned, indicating a potentially extended hospital stay.

Left: Banners at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Expresses Heartfelt Gratitude for Spiritual Solidarity, Prays for the Suffering, Meets Vatican Officials

Mar 2, 2025

Vatican sources reported that the 88-year-old pontiff met Sunday morning with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra.

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

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

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Pope Francis Shines Light on Bible’s Elderly "pilgrims of hope" in Wednesday Catechesis

Feb 26, 2025

In his second catechesis since being admitted into Rome’s Gemelli Hospital nearly two weeks ago, the Holy Father reflected on the presentation of Jesus in the Temple.

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Pope Francis Appoints Two Secretaries General in Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State, to Work Under President

Feb 25, 2025

The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Francis had appointed Archbishop Emilio Nappa and layman Giuseppe Puglisi-Alibrandi to serve as joint secretaries-general.

The faithful pray the rosary for Pope Francis’ recovery at Major Basilica of Nuestra Señora de Lujan on Feb. 23, 2025 in Lujan, Argentina. / Credit: Tobias Skarlovnik/Getty Images

Catholic Bishops, Clergy, Religious, Laity Worldwide Pray for Pope Francis amid Ongoing Health Challenges

Feb 25, 2025

Over the weekend the Vatican said the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion.

Dr. Sergio Alfieri (right) and Dr. Luigi Carbone give a press conference at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, where Pope Francis is hospitalized for tests and treatment for bronchitis, on Feb. 21, 2025. Alfieri said the pope asked him to say hat he has “the mind of a a 50-year-old man.” / Credit: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images

"Fragile and not out of danger": Pope Francis' Medical Team at Friday Press Conference

Feb 21, 2025

“The pope is not a quitter,” the Holy Father’s physician told journalists toward the end of a Friday press conference at Gemelli Hospital in Rome. 

Left: Banners at Rome’s Gemelli University Hospital. Right: Pope Francis waves from a wheelchair, Feb. 13, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis Spends Peaceful Second Night at Hospital, Prays for Peace at Angelus

Feb 16, 2025

Pope Francis spent a peaceful night and continued his treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, still managing to share a prepared Angelus message.

A view of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital where Pope Francis was delivered Feb. 14, 2025, to receive treatment for bronchitis. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Francis "peaceful" after First Night in Rome Hospital

Feb 15, 2025

“Medical assessments and necessary treatments are continuing,” after Pope Francis had a “peaceful night” and read several newspapers Saturday morning.

Sister Raffaella Petrini. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/EWTN News

Sr. Raffaella Petrini of Franciscan Sisters of Eucharist to Become First Woman to Head Vatican City State Governorate

Feb 15, 2025

Sister Raffaella Petrini of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE) will become the first woman to lead the Vatican City State governorate when she takes office March 1.

Military personnel in dress uniforms attend the Armed Forces Jubilee Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Feb. 9, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Military, Police Gather with Pope Francis for Armed Forces Jubilee Mass: PHOTOS

Feb 9, 2025

Pope Francis also praised the “important priestly presence” of military chaplains, pointing to the moral and spiritual support they provide.

Pope Francis presides over First Vespers for the World Day for Consecrated Life in St. Peter's Basilica, surrounded by bishops, priests, and religious men and women on Feb. 1, 2025, at the Vatican. / Credit: Anhelina Martsisheuskaya/CNA

Pope Francis Calls Consecrated Religious to be "bearers of light" amid Modern Challenges

Feb 1, 2025

The World Day for Consecrated Life, celebrated annually on Feb. 2, takes on special significance this year as the Church looks to a Jubilee of Consecrated Life.

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New Vatican Document Says AI Should Lead to "a renewed appreciation of all that is human"

Jan 28, 2025

The document establishes a Christian framework for understanding human intelligence as a gift from God, emphasizing humanity’s relational nature.

Pope Francis delivers his homily during the Jan. 26, 2025, Mass for Word of God Sunday at St. Peter’s Basilica. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

"God’s Word walks with us": Pope Francis Presides Over Sunday of the Word of God amid 2025 Jubilee Events at Vatican

Jan 26, 2025

“The Word of God is alive: Through the centuries it walks with us and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, it is at work in history,” Pope Francis said.

Pope Francis presides over vespers at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, accompanied by masters of ceremonies, marking the conclusion of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Jan. 25, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

Pope Sees "providential" Moment as Catholics, Orthodox Hope They Could Celebrate Easter Together in 2025

Jan 25, 2025

Pope Francis emphasized that hope is “always possible” in Jesus Christ during an ecumenical vespers service marking both the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity