Vatican News

The Vatican has formally suppressed Miles Christi, an Argentine religious order active in the United States, following years of investigations into abuse and misconduct among its ranks.

On his 21st day in Rome's Gemelli hospital, Pope Francis recorded a 27-second audio message thanking people for their prayers.

Pope Francis marked Ash Wednesday on his 20th day in Rome's Gemelli hospital by taking part in the rite of the blessing of the ashes and receiving them in a short prayer service, the Vatican said.

Pope Francis has not had any further respiratory crises a day after he experienced two of them, the Vatican said, and his condition remained "stable."

Pope Francis suffered "two episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency" March 3 but remained alert, the Vatican said, giving cause for concern after two days in which his condition was described as "stable."

When Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican secretary of state, welcomed Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda to the Vatican March 3, Russia's war on Ukraine was a key topic on the agenda.

Pope Francis' condition remained "stable" March 2, and he "did not require non-invasive mechanical ventilation, but only high-flow oxygen therapy," the Vatican said in its evening medical bulletin.

After experiencing progressive improvement the past few days, Pope Francis experienced "an isolated crisis of bronchospasm" which led to coughing and "vomiting with inhalation," which worsened his respiratory condition, the Vatican said.

The office governing Vatican City State was set to have a new president March 1 and, while in the hospital, Pope Francis changed the office's statutes to give the new president two top-level assistants.

Pope Francis' condition showed "further slight improvement" in the previous 24 hours, the Vatican said in its evening medical bulletin Feb. 26.