Apr 13 Convalescing pope opens Holy Week with in-person greeting in St. Peter’s Square By Colleen Barry, Associated Press A convalescing Pope Francis greeted the crowd in St. Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday, wishing more than 20,000 faithful a “Happy Palm Sunday, Happy Holy Week," in yet another reassuring public sign of his recovery from a life-threatening battle with double pneumonia. Continue reading
Apr 06 Pope Francis makes first public appearance since leaving the hospital at St. Peter’s Square By Silvia Stellacci, Colleen Barry, Associated Press Pope Francis made a surprise entrance to St. Peter’s Square during a special Jubilee Mass for the sick and health workers on Sunday, marking his first public appearance at the Vatican since leaving the hospital two weeks ago after a… Continue reading
Mar 29 Pope Francis shows ‘surprising improvement’ after surviving life-threatening crises, doctor says By Colleen Barry, Trisha Thomas, Associated Press Pope Francis has shown ‘’a truly surprising improvement’’ since returning to the Vatican to convalesce after surviving a life-threatening bout with double-pneumonia, the doctor who coordinated the pontiff’s five-week hospitalization said Saturday. Continue reading
Mar 23 Pope Francis returns to Vatican after 5-week hospital stay for life-threatening double pneumonia By Nicole Winfield, Paolo Santalucia, Trisha Thomas, Associated Press The pope's return home, after the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy and the second-longest in recent papal history, brought tangible relief to the Vatican and Catholic faithful who have been anxiously following 38 days of medical ups and downs. Continue reading
Mar 22 Doctors say Pope Francis will be released from the hospital on Sunday and continue recovery at the Vatican By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Pope Francis will be released from the hospital on Sunday, after 38 days battling a life-threatening case of pneumonia in both lungs, his doctors said. Continue reading
Mar 16 Vatican releases first photo of Pope Francis in a month as he celebrates Mass in the hospital By Colleen Barry, Associated Press The Vatican on Sunday released the first photograph of pope in more than a month, showing Pope Francis wearing a purple Lenten liturgical vestments sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar in the hospital chapel. Continue reading
Mar 15 Pope works on signature reform from hospital as he enters 5th week of pneumonia treatment By Colleen Barry, Associated Press Working from the hospital, Pope Francis has approved a three-year implementation and evaluation process for his reform project that aims to make the church a more welcoming and responsive place. Continue reading
Mar 13 Pope receives cake and glad tidings in the hospital on 12th anniversary of his papacy By Colleen Barry, Associated Press Pope Francis marked the 12th anniversary of his pontificate Thursday in the hospital as he received increasingly positive medical news on his recovery, a cake and hundreds of messages wishing him well. Continue reading
Mar 10 Doctors say Pope Francis is no longer in imminent danger due to pneumonia, but remains hospitalized By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press In a sign of his improved health, Francis followed the Vatican's weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday in both the morning and afternoon sessions. Continue reading
Mar 10 Pope takes part in Vatican’s spiritual retreat as he recovers from pneumonia in hospital By Nicole Winfield, Associated Press Pope Francis followed the Vatican’s weeklong spiritual retreat via videoconference on Monday as he continued his recovery from double pneumonia and looked ahead to the 12th anniversary of his election amid questions about what the future of his papacy might… Continue reading