X-RAY SHOWS ‘IMPROVEMENTS,’ VATICAN DENIES PLANS OF PAPAL TRIP TO TURKEY

March 12, 2025, at 03:43 pm ET

A new chest x-ray confirms there has been a slight improvement to Pope Francis’ lungs though his overall condition remains “complex” and “stationary,” a medical bulletin distributed by the Holy See Press Office said on Wednesday.

The latest medical update about the 88-year-old pope does not give a long-term prognosis. Francis continues to receive oxygen support day and night

Also on Wednesday, the Holy See Press Office denied a statement by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I claiming that Pope Francis was confirmed to be planning a visit to Turkey in May for the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

The press office said the Holy See has never mentioned a papal trip to Turkey, and while the visit is under consideration, it has never been officially announced.

The pontiff continues to spend his time doing physical and respiratory therapy, praying, and following via video the talks of the papal preacher Father Roberto Pasolini, OFM Cap., for the spiritual exercises of the Roman Curia. Pope Francis is not doing any work during the week-long retreat, as is his custom, a Vatican source said.

There are no particular plans for celebrating the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate on March 13.

AHEAD OF 12-YEAR MILESTONE, POPE FRANCIS CONTINUES TREATMENT IN GEMELLI HOSPITAL

March 12, 2025 at 05:58 am ET

As Pope Francis perseveres through his hospital stay, the Universal Church prepares to commemorate tomorrow’s 12th anniversary of his election to the papacy.

A medical bulletin is expected this evening following the recitation of the rosary, Vatican officials confirmed on Wednesday morning.

The pope continues his prescribed therapies at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, including respiratory and active movement therapy.

According to midday updates from the Vatican Press Office, the Holy Father follows the curial spiritual exercises via video from his hospital room. On Monday, his medical team at Gemelli Hospital indicated that Francis is no longer in immediate danger, with signs of slight improvement, though his clinical situation remains complex.

“Not much else is known while awaiting the doctors’ assessment,” a Vatican source notes. Meanwhile, the faithful gather to pray in the plaza before the St. John Paul II statue at Gemelli, with Masses celebrated in the chapel at the main entrance.

Cardinal George Jacob Koovakad, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, will lead the Holy Rosary this evening at 6 p.m.

The 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’ pontificate falls tomorrow, Mar. 13, though no official Vatican celebrations are planned. However, many Catholic institutions are organizing Eucharistic celebrations to mark the occasion.

The Pontifical University of the Holy Cross is among those commemorating the anniversary, reports ACI Stampa, CNA’s Italian-language news partner.

On Thursday, Rector Fernando Puig will preside at a Holy Mass at 12:45 p.m. in the Basilica of St. Apollinare to celebrate the milestone.

Puig reflects on the pope’s leadership: “In these years, Pope Francis’ magisterium has constantly called us to the centrality of proclaiming the Gospel, to witnessing mercy, and to an increasingly concrete commitment to the culture of encounter and hope. As the Academic Community of the Holy Cross, we renew our commitment to form priests, religious, and laity capable of carrying forward this mission with competence and a spirit of service.”

The pontiff has been hospitalized at the Gemelli Clinic since Feb. 14, with his most recent respiratory crisis occurring over a week ago. Since then, his condition has stabilized and recently shown improvement.

POPE SHOWS ‘SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT,’ THOUGH HEALTH SITUATION REMAINS COMPLEX, VATICAN SAYS

March 11, 2025, at 02:30 pm ET

Pope Francis’ health has shown slight improvements, though his overall condition remains complex, the Holy See Press Office says Tuesday evening.

The 88-year-old pope received high-flow oxygen therapy on Tuesday afternoon as part of his ongoing treatment and remains on his prescribed medication.

Vatican sources confirmed that now that the pope’s condition has stabilized, his doctors have “lifted the prognosis,” indicating that Pope Francis is “no longer in immediate danger from the respiratory infection.”

The Vatican is currently not providing an estimate for when the Pope may be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been hospitalized for nearly a month. A CT scan may be performed in the coming days to assess his pneumonia.

Pope Francis spent much of Tuesday afternoon in prayer, receiving the Eucharist and following the spiritual exercises for the annual Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia via livestream.

Due to the Roman Curia’s spiritual exercises, there is no general audience on the calendar for this week and therefore no catechesis will be released on Wednesday.

POPE CONTINUES PRESCRIBED THERAPIES, PARTICIPATES IN PRAYER REMOTELY

March 11, 2025 at 06:10 am ET

Pope Francis has rested well and continued his prescribed therapies this morning at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, according to the Vatican.

The Holy Father also participated in spiritual exercises via videoconference following the Lenten retreat led by Father Roberto Pasolini in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that the pontiff prayed in the small chapel near his room on the 10th floor of Gemelli Hospital, where he has now been admitted for 26 days.

Due to the pope’s stable condition, no medical bulletin will be released this evening, though the Holy See Press Office will provide general updates to journalists as usual

According to Vatican sources, the pope’s mood remains positive as he converses with staff caring for him. Medical teams noted yesterday that recent improvements have been “further strengthened,” as confirmed by blood work and the patient’s overall clinical condition.

Doctors have indicated Francis responds well to treatment but will need to remain hospitalized for “several more days.”

Cardinal Kurt Koch, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, will lead tonight’s rosary for the pope at 6 p.m. Rome time.

POPE FRANCIS’ CLINICAL CONDITION ‘CONTINUES TO BE STABLE,’ VATICAN SAYS MONDAY EVENING

March 10, 2025, at 02:19 pm ET

Pope Francis’ clinical condition “continues to be stable,” the Vatican reports on Monday evening.

“The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by both blood tests and clinical objectivity and the good response to drug therapy,” the Holy See Press Office statement says.

As the pope continues to respond well to treatment, the Gemelli Hospital decides to “dissolve the prognosis” but confirms that the 88-year-old pontiff has to remain at Gemelli for treatment.

“However, in view of the complexity of the clinical picture and the important infectious picture presented on admission, it will be necessary to continue, for additional days, medical drug therapy in a hospital setting,” the statement says.

In the morning, the Holy Father participated in the first day of the Roman Curia’s spiritual exercises held in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall via a video link.

He also “received the Eucharist and went to the chapel of the private apartment for a moment of prayer” before joining spiritual exercises again in the afternoon.

“During the day he alternated between prayer and rest,” the Vatican update concludes.

POPE CONTINUES LENTEN SPIRITUAL EXERCISES FROM GEMELLI HOSPITAL AMID ONGOING TREATMENT

March 10, 2025 at 03:46 am ET

Pope Francis spent a peaceful night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he continues his recovery while participating remotely in the Lenten spiritual exercises, according to a Monday update from the Holy See Press Office.

The pontiff has resumed respiratory and physical therapy after transitioning from noninvasive mechanical ventilation during the night to high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas.

The statement notes that Francis followed the Curia’s spiritual exercises via video from his hospital chair this morning, joining participants spiritually in the event in the Paul VI Audience Hall.

The 88-year-old pope has been informed about flooding in Argentina and “expresses his closeness to those affected,” the press office states.

While his medical condition remains “stable within a complex framework,” doctors maintain a reserved prognosis. A medical bulletin, which wasn’t published Sunday due to the stable clinical picture, is expected to be released Monday evening.

The rosary for the pope’s health will be prayed at approximately 6 p.m. local time in the Paul VI Hall. Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family, and Life, will lead the prayer.

Today marks the 25th day of hospitalization for Pope Francis, who was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic on Feb. 14.

POPE PROGRESSING POSITIVELY AFTER PEACEFUL NIGHT IN HOSPITAL

March 9, 2025 at 03:49 am ET

Pope Francis has spent another tranquil night at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, the Vatican Press Office announces Sunday morning.

Saturday evening’s medical bulletin indicated cautious signs of improvement three weeks after the pontiff’s admission: “The Holy Father’s clinical condition has remained stable in recent days, showing a good response to treatment.”

The 88-year-old pope plans to join the Roman Curia spiritually for their Lenten retreat beginning on the First Sunday of Lent. The Vatican will release the text of the pope’s Angelus message in writing later today.

The rosary for Pope Francis tonight at St. Peter’s Square will be presided over by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education.

POPE’S CONDITION ‘STABLE’ WITH ‘SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT’

March 8, 2025, at 01:16 pm ET

The Vatican says Pope Francis’ condition on Saturday evening remains “stable” with the Holy Father showing a “gradual, slight improvement” in his condition.

The pope’s stability on Saturday “testifies to a good response to therapy,” the Holy See Press Office says.

The Holy Father has “always remained [without a fever],” the Vatican notes, adding: “Gas exchanges have improved; blood chemistry and haemocrocitometric tests are confirmed to be stable.”

“The doctors, to record these initial improvements in the coming days, prudentially still keep the prognosis reserved,” the press office says.

On Saturday morning, Francis received the Eucharist, prayed in the chapel of the papal hospital apartment, and later “alternated rest with work activities,” the Vatican says.

POPE’S PROGNOSIS REMAINS GUARDED AS PONTIFF RESTS SATURDAY MORNING

March 8, 2025 at 05:08 am ET

Pope Francis is resting comfortably at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital this morning as he continues treatment for bilateral pneumonia. The Holy See Press Office reports that the 88-year-old pontiff had a quiet night.

“The night passed quietly; the pope is resting,” reads this morning’s brief statement.

The pope’s clinical condition remains stable as he receives ongoing care. Medical staff continue to describe his prognosis as “guarded.”

Vatican officials report that Francis is dividing his time between prayer, rest, and work while continuing his respiratory physiotherapy treatments.

Medical teams provide the pope with high-flow oxygen through nasal cannulas during the day. At night, he switches to noninvasive mechanical ventilation to support his breathing.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, SJ, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will lead a holy rosary for Pope Francis later today. The prayer service will gather the faithful to offer prayers for the pope’s swift recovery.

A more detailed medical update on the pope’s condition is expected this evening.

Day: March 13, 2025

AN UPDATE ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF THE HOLY FATHER

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