Cindy Wooden

Pope Francis continues to govern the church, says Vatican secretary of state

March 31, 2025

Even on his worst days in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis was governing the Catholic Church, although on some days, he did not seem to have the energy to sign his full name, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Pope Francis' condition slowly improving after release from hospital

March 28, 2025

Home from the hospital after more than five weeks, Pope Francis is showing "slight improvements" in his breathing, ability to speak and mobility, the Vatican press office said.

Pope Francis knew he 'might not make it,' physician says

March 25, 2025

For Pope Francis' medical team at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Feb. 28 was the worst day.

Pope Francis returns to Vatican after long hospitalization

March 24, 2025

Immediately before leaving Rome's Gemelli hospital after more than five weeks of treatment for breathing difficulties, double pneumonia and infections, Pope Francis greeted hundreds of people who gathered outside the hospital March 23.

Pope Francis' doctors report more improvement, but no date for his release

March 19, 2025

Pope Francis no longer needs the "noninvasive mechanical ventilation" he has used most nights since experiencing a breathing "crisis" Feb. 28, his doctors reported in a bulletin released by the Vatican press office March 19.

King Charles, Queen Camilla hope to meet pope at Vatican in April

March 18, 2025

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla confirmed their plans to meet at the Vatican with Pope Francis in early April in an announcement March 18.

Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis since his hospitalization

March 17, 2025

For the first time since Pope Francis was hospitalized in mid-February, the Vatican press office released a photograph of him March 16; the image shows him concelebrating Mass that morning in the chapel of his suite of rooms at Rome's Gemelli hospital.

As ceasefire talk continues, Zelenskyy says he spoke with Cardinal Parolin

March 14, 2025

As the United States continues to attempt to broker a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with the Vatican secretary of state.

Pope Francis' chest x-ray confirms his improvement, doctors say

March 12, 2025

Pope Francis' condition continues to be stable and a chest x-ray "confirmed the improvements recorded in the previous days," his doctors said, but without saying his double pneumonia had cleared up completely.

Papal anniversary: For 12 years he's said, 'Don't forget to pray for me'

March 11, 2025

As Pope Francis prepared to spend the 12th anniversary of his election at Rome's Gemelli hospital, people at the Vatican and around the world were responding to his most frequent personal request.