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Pope's condition slowly improving after release from hospital

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- 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.The 88-year-old pope, released from Rome's Gemelli hospital March 23, is following doctors' orders and is focused on his recovery, the press office told reporters March 28.His days are devoted to prayer, breathing exercises, physical therapy, rest and handling paperwork sent from Vatican offices to his residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae.Each morning, he concelebrates Mass in the small chapel down the hall from his bedroom and private office, the press office said. Pope Francis greets well-wishers at Rome's Gemelli hospital before returning to the Vatican March 23, 2025, after 38 days of treatment at the hospital. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) Pope Francis has not received any visitors, it said. He spends each day with members of his medical team -- one of whom is on duty

Not knowing pope's role, Vatican publishes Holy Week, Easter schedule

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As Pope Francis continues his convalescence, the Vatican published a full calendar of Holy Week and Easter liturgies with no indication of who would preside or be the main celebrant.The list of Masses and other liturgies, released by the master of papal liturgical ceremonies March 27, said only that the services would be celebrated by the "Pontifical Chapel," which includes the pope, the cardinals residing in Rome and top Vatican officials.Asked about Pope Francis' role in the celebrations, the Vatican press office responded that "it will be necessary to see the improvements in the pope's health in the coming weeks to assess his possible presence, and on what terms, at the rites of Holy Week."The 88-year-old pope was released from Rome's Gemelli hospital March 23 after a 38-day stay for breathing troubles, infections and double pneumonia. His doctors recommended two months of rest. The reliquary containing a relic of Blessed Carlo A

Jesus pursues brokenness to offer healing, pope's catechesis says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Jesus seeks out people in their woundedness and isolation to offer healing and hope, even when they feel furthest from God, Pope Francis said in a prepared catechesis."Jesus awaits us and lets himself be found precisely when we think there is no longer hope for us," the pope wrote in the text prepared for his general audience March 26.Although Pope Francis returned to his residence at the Vatican March 23 after more than five weeks in the hospital, his general audience and other appointments were suspended to allow time for his recovery.Jubilee pilgrims, even knowing Pope Francis was not holding an audience, continued to make their way to the Vatican and to the Holy Door at St. Peter's Basilica.As part of his catechetical series for the Holy Year 2025, themed "Jesus Christ, our hope," the pope reflected on Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well as recounted in St. John's Gospel. The catechesis follows a previous reflection on the

Vatican’s “Life is Always a Good” Affirms U.S. Bishops’ Initiative “Walking with Moms in Need,” says Bishop Thomas

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WASHINGTON – On the release of the pastoral framework, “Life is always a good” from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, Bishop Daniel E. Thomas, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities welcomed the framework that proposes a methodology for pastoral planning and synodal discernment. Bishop Thomas stated that the framework affirmed the U.S. bishops’ nationwide and parish-based initiative, Walking with Moms in Need, which is marking its fifth anniversary: “We welcome today’s release of a pastoral framework entitled, ‘Life is always a good’ from the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. On this thirtieth anniversary of St. John Paul II’s landmark pro-life encyclical, Evangelium Vitae (the Gospel of Life), the framework, addressed to Family and Life Offices of the Bishops’ Conferences and Dioceses throughout the world, proposes a met

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

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ROME (CNS) -- For Pope Francis' medical team at Rome's Gemelli hospital, Feb. 28 was the worst day."For the first time I saw tears in the eyes of some of the people around him," Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the coordinator of his medical team, told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera."We were all aware that the situation had deteriorated further and there was a risk that he might not make it," Alfieri said in the interview published March 25, two days after the pope was released from the hospital and returned to the Vatican.The Vatican medical bulletin from Feb. 28 said: "The Holy Father, this afternoon, after a morning spent alternating between respiratory physiotherapy and prayer in the chapel, experienced an isolated episode of bronchospasm. This caused an episode of vomiting, which led to him inhaling some and a sudden worsening of his respiratory condition."The doctors aspirated his airways and put him on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a machine tha

Bishop Zaidan Encourages Solidarity and Prayer for Lasting Peace in the Holy Land

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WASHINGTON - “The further devastation of Gaza will have dire implications for any future civil society development in the region and will likely exacerbate existing tensions for another generation,” said Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, addressing the breakdown of the ceasefire agreement in the Holy Land. Bishop Zaidan stated:   “I am deeply saddened that the ceasefire in Gaza, which had been implemented in January and carried with it the hope that this deadly conflict would end, has broken down, and that violence has resumed with horrible consequences. I am also deeply saddened that there are still Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas; I call on the United States and all parties involved in the negotiations, to work for the immediate release of all these victims of the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks, and to restore the ceasefire to prevent further loss of life.

Pro-life movement needs new approach, driven by all the faithful, dicastery says

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life has published a pastoral framework to help dioceses begin a synodal process for strengthening and promoting the pastoral care of human life.The aim is to help all Catholics defend, safeguard and promote all human life worldwide and in different cultural contexts at a time that is "marked by extremely serious violations of human dignity," the dicastery said in a statement March 24, the eve of the 30th anniversary of St. John Paul II's encyclical, "Evangelium Vitae" ("The Gospel of Life"). The cover of a new document published by the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life at the Vatican March 24, 2025, is seen in this undated photo. (CNS photo/courtesy of the Dicastery for Laity, the Family and Life) Titled, "Life is always a good. Initiating Processes for a Pastoral Care of Human Life," the 40-page framework seeks to reaffirm St. John Paul's words as repeatedly emph

Pope returns to Vatican after long hospitalization

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ROME (CNS) -- 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.With a very weak voice, Pope Francis thanked the crowd, waving his hands and giving a thumbs up.He also pointed to a woman carrying a yellow-wrapped bouquet of flowers and told the crowd, "She's good." Pope Francis greets well-wishers at Rome's Gemelli hospital before returning to the Vatican March 23, 2025, after 38 days of treatment at the hospital. (CNS photo/Vatican Media) An aide had pushed Pope Francis in his wheelchair onto the balcony overlooking the square outside the hospital. Some 600 people had gathered at the hospital, including Rome's Mayor Roberto Gualtieri. Hundreds of people also gathered in front of video screens in St. Peter's Square to see the pope for the first time since he was hospitalized Feb. 1

Pope to return to Vatican, prescribed to continue rest, doctors announce

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis will return to his residence in the Vatican March 23 after spending 38 days in Rome's Gemelli hospital for treatment of double pneumonia, his doctors announced.The pope was to be discharged "in a stable clinical condition, with a prescription to partially continue drug therapy and of a convalescence and rest period of at least two months," said Dr. Sergio Alfieri, who is leading the medical team treating the pope, during a news conference at the hospital March 22.He said that the double pneumonia, which the pope was diagnosed with shortly after being hospitalized Feb. 14, "is completely healed," although he may still have other lingering bacterial and viral infections."Immediately, he will not be able to again take up work activities with meeting groups of people or important obligations that he will probably be able to carry out once he has finished the prescribed convalescence and expected clinical improvements are recorded,

Pope's days are marked by small improvements, work, prayer

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VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Francis continues to show small signs of improvement and spends his days following through on all his therapies, doing some light work and praying, according to the Vatican press office."His medical condition remains stable with some small improvements" regarding his mobility and breathing capacity, it said in an evening briefing.The pope is following a daily regime made up of pharmacological, respiratory and physical therapies, which are yielding positive results, the press office said March 21. He has not needed nighttime mechanical ventilation through a mask after it was suspended the night of March 17-18, it said March 21. Instead, he has been receiving high-flow oxygen through a nasal tube overnight.The press office also noted as a positive sign that the 88-year-old pope is maintaining a reduced need for the "high-flow oxygen therapy" through a nasal tube during the day.Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the Di

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