Pope Francis' health crisis

While the pope's health struggles have left Carla Rabezzana uneasy, the lack of direct contact has also heightened her anxiety for her beloved cousin, who can "cheer you up with just a few words."

Pope Francis' surprise visit to St. Peter's Basilica to pray and see ongoing restoration work is a clear sign that his condition is improving, the Vatican press office said.

The royal couple made a four-day state visit to Italy and marked their 20th wedding anniversary.

The pontiff's surprise entrance came during a special Jubilee Mass for those who are sick and those who care for the sick.

Muslim well-wishers include longtime friends and people who are grateful for his improved health. 

The pontiff's Jesuit roots are sure to guide his priorities in shaping the global church. 

Francis, the comic strip: Leo gets nervous when the pope is sick — so he flies his pope kite!

Pope Francis on March 23 appeared in public for the first time in five weeks since his hospitalization began on Feb. 14. 

Over 12 years, Francis has sought to impose a kind of normality on the papacy with his informal style and disdain for pomp. During his five-week hospitalization for pneumonia, he has followed that same playbook.

Gemelli Hospital medical director Dr. Sergio Alfieri said Saturday (March 22) that Francis will require at least two months of rest and rehabilitation as he continues recovering at the Vatican. 

Pope Francis shares the temptation he experienced while praying in the hospital. 

On March 18, the Italian daily paper Corriere della Serra published a letter from Pope Francis where he said his hospitalization has heightened his awareness to the "absurdity of war." 

Argentines working in humble barrios, or neighborhoods, and the people they serve, prayed for the health of Pope Francis at one of the country's most important Catholic shrines.

In our time, in the Spirit of our times, we have seen buried in the hearts of the popes who have gone before us their personal attempts to bring us through what the era demands but which we cannot see from long-range vision.

Francis, the comic strip: He's back!

On March 16, the Vatican released a photo of Pope Francis. Earlier, he approved a three-year plan focused on implementing the reforms initiated by his recent synod on synodality.

With no significant developments, Pope Francis' medical team decided not to release a scheduled bulletin on Friday.

Pope Francis nears a month in the hospital, where he has battled double pneumonia for the last month in the gravest health crisis of his pontificate. 
 

Pope Francis' latest X-rays confirm that his condition is improving while hospitalized for a lung infection and double pneumonia, the Vatican said on March 12. 

In recent centuries, the church has celebrated the tradition of jubilee years as a time of debt forgiveness. Despite the pope's hospitalization, the head of Jubilee USA Network said efforts toward debt cancellation continue.

I am angry about Cardinal Timothy Dolan's remark that the pontiff was “probably close to death.” What we need is Pope Francis back. The world needs him back.

From the hushed prayers in a hospital chapel to the flickering candles outside Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis' hospitalization has become a testament to faith and solidarity.

For more than a week now, the Vatican's daily updates have trended in an incrementally positive direction, lifting the 88-year-old pontiff's prognosis. 

A Vatican update on the pope's health said, "In order to continue recording these initial improvements in the coming days, the doctors are prudently keeping the prognosis reserved." 

Pope Francis' recovery from double pneumonia is continuing on a positive trajectory, with the pontiff remaining stable for another day. Francis on March 6 released a brief audio message expressing gratitude for the prayers he has received during his three-week hospitalization. 

While Pope Francis remained hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Italian Cardinal Angelo De Donatis celebrated the Ash Wednesday Mass in his place at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, March 5 in Rome.

Pope Francis' medical team has increased the pontiff's respiratory physiotherapy and active motor therapy as his doctors seek to ramp up his recovery from double pneumonia, the Vatican said on March 5. 

During his 19th day of hospitalization for double pneumonia, the 88-year-old pope underwent respiratory physiotherapy, spent time in prayer and received the Eucharist. 

Francis, the comic strip: Gabby hopes she and Leo will get to see Francis again.

After Pope Francis experienced one of his worst days since entering the hospital, hundreds of faithful from around the world continue to gather nightly in Vatican City to pray for his recovery.

Pope Francis experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure on March 3 and had to resume receiving oxygen through a ventilator as he continues his battle with double pneumonia.  

Pope Francis remains stable and without fever during his ongoing hospitalization for double pneumonia, the Vatican said on March 2. 

Pope Francis is in stable condition and he is currently not showing any signs of an infection, following a serious setback yesterday during his ongoing hospitalization for double pneumonia, the Vatican said on March 1.

Doctors said it would take a day or two to evaluate how and if an alarming Friday afternoon episode impacted Francis’ overall clinical condition. His prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn’t out of danger.

Pope Francis experienced an isolated bronchial spasm resulting in a temporary setback in his hospitalization treatment for double pneumonia, the Vatican said on Feb. 28.

Listen: Daniel, Heidi, and David look at the GOP's recent attacks on Medicaid, and join their prayers with the world for the health of Pope Francis. Heidi interviews NCR's Shannon Evans about Lenten spirituality.

"He is loved by many, many, many people": From Buenos Aires to Mexico City, Latin Americans expressed closeness to the Argentine pope as he battles double pneumonia for the second week in a hospital room in Rome.

Pope Francis continues to recover from double pneumonia, with the Vatican no longer describing his condition as "critical" for two days in a row. 

Francis, the comic strip: Leo wonders if this will be Pope Francis' last Lent.

Pope Francis has shown "further slight improvement" and earlier concerns over possible kidney failure have been resolved, the Vatican said on Feb. 26. 

Pope Francis remains in critical condition, but is "stable" as the 88-year-old pontiff continues his nearly two-week long hospitalization for double pneumonia. 

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, led a recitation of the rosary for Pope Francis on the 11th day of his hospitalization for double pneumonia. About 27 cardinals living in Rome and dozens of members of the Roman Curia joined the prayers.

Pope Francis remains in a critical state on his 11th day of hospitalization, but the Vatican said on Feb. 24 his conditions are slightly improving. A medical specialist suggested there is hope for Francis' recovery, but it would likely be prolonged and challenging.

The morning after Pope Francis' doctors said that he remained in "critical" condition and showed initial signs of renal insufficiency, the Vatican press office said the pope was in "good spirits" and continuing his treatment.

Pope Francis remains in critical condition and he continues to receive supplemental oxygen, but he has not experienced any further respiratory crises.

Francis' condition continues to be critical and the pope is not out of danger.

Pope Francis' doctors believe the 88-year-old pontiff is not in danger of death at the moment, but that the therapy for his double pneumonia needs time to work and will require at least another week of hospitalization. 

The pope looms so large in everyday Italian life that there are lots of expressions that make light of even a dark event like his death.

Pope Francis continues to improve and the 88-year-old pontiff remains without fever and with a well-functioning heart, as he carries on his hospital recovery from double pneumonia. 

As Pope Francis continues to recover at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, Catholics in the pope's Diocese of Rome and around the world joined in prayer for his health.
 

Pope Francis is in stable condition and his blood tests indicate a slight improvement, as the 88-year-old pontiff continues to battle pneumonia in hospital. 

Pope Francis was in pain, swollen and walking very little. Italian pulmonologist Dr. Barbara Moscatelli says that this is common in elderly patients who share the pontiff's lung illness.

Here's a look at Pope Francis' health history from a partial lung removal in 1957 to his entering the hospital on Feb. 14. 

Pope Francis has been diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and his latest laboratory tests and chest X-rays continue to reveal a "complex" medical picture, according to a Feb. 18 Vatican statement. 

 Pope Francis' treatment for a respiratory tract infection "will require adequate hospitalization" to address what the Vatican is now describing as a "complex clinical picture." 

Pope Francis is continuing his treatment for a respiratory infection at Rome's Gemelli Hospital but his condition is improving, according to a Feb. 15 update from the Vatican press office.

Pope Francis on Feb. 14 was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for testing and treatment of his ongoing bronchitis, which has plagued the 88-year-old pontiff in recent weeks.