Pope Francis Stable, Receives Eucharist, Spends Time in Prayer: Vatican Updates

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.

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