Vatican City, February 20, 2025 – Pope Francis will not appear in public on Sunday to lead his customary prayer with pilgrims, marking the second consecutive week of absence, the Vatican announced on Saturday.
The decision comes as the pontiff remains hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he has been receiving treatment for double pneumonia since February 14 after experiencing several days of breathing difficulties.
In a brief statement, the Vatican noted that the pope had “rested well” overnight, though it did not specify whether he had risen or taken breakfast, as had been reported in previous updates. Instead of the usual live recitation of the Sunday Angelus prayer, the Holy See press office said that the text would be published.
Doctors have described the pope’s condition as “complex,” with his double pneumonia caused by two or more micro-organisms—a serious infection that can inflame and scar the lungs, impairing breathing. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Dr. Sergio Alfieri, a senior member of the Gemelli staff, stated, “The pope is not out of danger. The situation could go either way.”
While his medical team has assured that the condition is not currently life-threatening, the pope’s continued absence from public duties underscores the severity of his illness. The Vatican’s latest announcement comes as the papacy navigates the challenges of his ongoing treatment and recovery.
Iran said no final decision has been made on a proposed agreement with Washington, despite suggestions from U.S. President Donald Trump that a deal co...
The United States and Iran have traded fresh strikes, with the U.S. hitting military sites and Iran launching missiles and drones at bases and ship...
Ukraine will increase military wages and expand recruitment of foreign volunteers, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday, as the armed for...
Poland will receive a new $4 billion loan from the United States through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) programme, strengthening defence ties be...
Georgia and the European Union have held their first working-level talks in Brussels following the EU's decision to suspend visa-free travel for holde...
The year 2025 proved to be one of the most transformative periods for the Roman Catholic Church in recent history, beginning with the death of Pope Francis and culminating in the election and early diplomatic outreach of his successor, Pope Leo XIV.
Pope Leo has criticised corporate pay packages that grant executives hundreds of times more than workers, citing Tesla’s $1 trillion compensation plan for CEO Elon Musk. The remarks came in excerpts from his first media interview, released on Sunday by Catholic news site Crux.
Pope Leo has called on the leaders of Iran and Israel to show restraint and choose dialogue over conflict, urging them to act with “responsibility and reason” amid growing fears of escalation following recent airstrikes.
Following the death of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025, the Catholic Church is preparing for one of its most ancient and secretive traditions: the papal conclave. This process to elect the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church combines centuries-old rituals with modern security measures to ensure
Mexico and South Africa meet in Thursday’s World Cup opener in Mexico City, with both teams approaching the match from very different positions but facing their own pressures.
SpaceX has made history with the largest initial public offering ever in the United States, pricing its shares at $135 each and achieving a market valuation of $1.77 trillion.
Formula 1 driver Pierre Gasly’s Monaco Grand Prix podium has been reinstated after Alpine successfully challenged his post-race penalties through a Right of Review request with the FIA.
U.S. Donald Trump has said he has cancelled planned strikes on Iranian oil and gas ports announced earlier on Thursday. Trump said he made the decision after senior leadership in Iran agreed to peace talks.
While France hosts next week’s Group of Seven summit, businesses in neighbouring Switzerland have already begun taking precautions, with many shops in Geneva boarded up ahead of a large anti-G7 demonstration expected on Sunday.
A U.S. doctor who contracted Ebola while on a humanitarian mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recovered and been discharged from a hospital in Germany, according to officials.
Protesters in Nanyuki blocked roads and burned tyres after residents challenged a U.S. plan to house Americans exposed to Ebola at a nearby military base.
Global health organisation CEPI will provide around $60 million to Moderna and two other partners to speed up the development of vaccines targeting the Ebola Bundibugyo strain, which is currently driving an outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be significantly larger than official figures suggest, following a visit to the country where he briefed President Felix Tshisekedi on the ongoing response.
Four nurses have recovered and been discharged after receiving treatment for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment