Pope Francis, 88, has been hospitalized since Friday (14) in a Rome hospital to treat a case of bronchitis. However, his health condition significantly worsened on Monday (17) when the Vatican announced that the pontiff had been diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, escalating his condition to a “complex clinical situation.” The deterioration of his health has raised concerns among the faithful, religious leaders, and heads of state worldwide, who have sent messages of support and prayers for his recovery.
Before being hospitalized, Francis had already shown signs of frailty. During a general audience earlier this month, the Pope revealed that he was suffering from a “severe cold,” which was later identified as bronchitis. The condition forced him to delegate the reading of his speech to an aide, highlighting his respiratory difficulties. Two days before his hospitalization, he again mentioned his weakness and once more needed the assistance of a collaborator to conduct a ceremony. His voice was weaker, and his breathing more labored—signs that worried the Vatican medical team.
Since assuming the papacy in 2013, Francis has faced various health challenges, some requiring hospitalizations, surgeries, and periods of enforced rest. One of the most notable early episodes occurred in July 2021, when the pontiff underwent a scheduled surgery on his colon. The procedure was successfully performed and required a ten-day hospitalization, allowing for his recovery before returning to the Vatican. At the time, the Pope showed good spirits upon leaving the hospital, waving to the faithful and expressing gratitude for their prayers.
By 2022, Francis began dealing with chronic issues in his right knee, which limited his mobility and forced him to reduce engagements. During an audience early in the year, he informed the faithful that he could not greet them due to ligament inflammation. In the following months, the condition worsened, leading the Pope to cancel an official trip to Africa in June of that year. From that period on, he frequently used a wheelchair, reflecting the difficulties imposed by joint pain. These physical limitations did not prevent him from continuing to fulfill his role as leader of the Catholic Church but required adjustments to his routine.
At the time, he publicly addressed his limitations:
“I do not think I can continue traveling at the same pace as before. I believe that at my age and with this limitation, I need to conserve my energy to serve the Church or consider stepping aside. This, honestly, is not a catastrophe. A Pope can be replaced, it is not a problem.”
The year 2023 brought new challenges for the Pope’s health. In March, he had to be hospitalized in Rome after reporting breathing difficulties and was diagnosed with bronchitis. The antibiotic treatment worked quickly, allowing him to be discharged a few days later. However, the frailty of his health was already evident, and experts pointed out that recurrent episodes of bronchitis could be concerning for someone his age.
In June of that same year, the pontiff returned to the hospital for abdominal surgery, his second surgical intervention within two years. He remained hospitalized for nine days under constant medical supervision before resuming activities at the Vatican. During his recovery, he carried out only essential commitments, such as his traditional Sunday blessings and brief audiences with religious leaders.
Francis began 2024 facing yet another case of bronchitis, reinforcing concerns about his physical resilience. Nonetheless, he maintained an active schedule, including his longest trip as Pope, visiting Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste, and Singapore. Throughout the journey, he was frequently seen using a wheelchair due to persistent pain in his knees and back. During flights, he required regular medical assistance, and at times, he was advised to limit his interactions to avoid excessive fatigue.
In the final months of 2024, his health remained a point of attention. During a public appearance, Francis was seen with a bruise on his chin, the result of a minor domestic accident. Shortly before Christmas, he had to deliver the traditional Sunday prayers from his residence due to a cold. His absence from the balcony of St. Peter’s Square led to speculation about his health, prompting the Vatican to issue an official statement assuring that it was merely a common cold.
During this period, a significant revelation surfaced: in his recently published autobiography, Pope Francis disclosed that he had survived two failed assassination attempts during his historic trip to Iraq in 2021. This revelation sparked global reactions and raised discussions about his personal security.
The beginning of 2025 also brought new incidents for Pope Francis. In January, he suffered a fall inside his residence, injuring his right forearm. Despite the scare, medical examinations confirmed no fractures, and the pontiff only needed to immobilize his arm for a few days. However, the fall raised concerns among his medical team, which began monitoring him more closely.
In early February, another incident caused alarm: Francis slightly tripped while entering an audience at the Vatican after his cane unexpectedly broke. The religious leader managed to regain balance with the help of an aide and proceeded with the ceremony. Shortly after, he reported symptoms of a severe cold once again, requiring an aide to read his message during the weekly audience. The Vatican confirmed that the condition was, in fact, another episode of bronchitis.
Two days before being hospitalized, Francis was still struggling with respiratory difficulties and had to rest during official engagements. Given the worsening condition, he was taken to the hospital on Friday (14) for intensified treatment. In the first days of hospitalization, his condition was considered stable, but on Monday (17), the progression to a polymicrobial infection led to a medical reassessment, classifying his situation as “complex.”
Pope Francis’ health remains a matter of global concern, particularly due to his advanced age and history of hospitalizations and surgeries in recent years. The Vatican has yet to provide new updates on his response to the polymicrobial infection treatment, but the Catholic community and religious leaders closely monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, uncertainty lingers regarding the impact of this latest hospitalization on his future papal activities. Pope Francis has consistently shown resilience and determination to continue his role despite physical limitations. However, as he himself has previously stated, the possibility of reducing commitments or even considering resignation is not ruled out if his health no longer allows him to fully perform his duties.
