Pope puts Sagrada Familia architect Gaudi on path to sainthood
Pope Francis has approved the first step towards sainthood for Antoni Gaudi, the modernist architect behind Barcelona's "Sagrada Familia" basilica, the Vatican said on Monday.
The Vatican reports that Pope Francis’s scan indicates a “normal evolution” of lung inflammation, while his kidney issue has “resolved.”
Pope Francis has shown "further, slight improvement" as he continues to recover from pneumonia at the age of 88, the Vatican announced Wednesday.
A CT scan of his chest indicated that the inflammation in his lungs is progressing normally, while the "mild kidney insufficiency" diagnosed on Sunday has now resolved, according to the evening update.
"The clinical condition of the Holy Father in the last 24 hours has shown a further, slight improvement," the statement read, though it did not clarify whether his condition remains critical. His doctors, however, remain cautious in their prognosis.
Francis is now spending his 13th night at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he is reportedly eating normally and continuing to fulfill some of his work duties. A Vatican official said he has received an outpouring of letters and cards wishing him well.
Nightly prayer vigils for the pope’s recovery are ongoing at St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as in towns and cities across Italy and beyond. Some have also gathered outside Gemelli, the preferred hospital for pontiffs.
Francis was admitted on February 14 and later diagnosed with a respiratory tract infection and pneumonia in both lungs. He is particularly vulnerable to lung infections, having suffered from pleurisy as a young man, which led to the partial removal of one lung while he was training for the priesthood in Argentina.
The pope has faced several health challenges in recent years. He was hospitalized in March 2023 with pneumonia and underwent a colon operation in June 2021. He has frequently been seen using a wheelchair or walking stick due to sciatic nerve pain and a knee condition.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for April 16th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A mob attack on an Ahmadi place of worship in Karachi has left one man dead, highlighting ongoing persecution of the minority group.
A Russian court has sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to nearly three years in prison for protesting the war in Ukraine using poetry and graffiti.
The new U.S. ambassador to Japan has called for closer military coordination with Tokyo, framing the alliance as crucial amid rising regional tensions and ongoing trade disputes.
Students in Serbia have rallied outside a police station as Belgrade University’s rector is questioned over support for anti-government protests.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov extended Moscow’s support for the ongoing indirect nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, offering to mediate or assist in any way that would be beneficial to Tehran and acceptable to Washington.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment