The clinical condition of His Holiness Pope Francis shows a good response to therapy. The prognosis remains guarded. This morning the Pope prayed in his chapel, while in the afternoon he alternated between resting and working.

Vatican News

On Saturday evening, 8 March, the Holy See Press Office offered the following health update on Pope Francis:

The Holy Father's clinical condition over the last few days has remained stable and, consequently, shows a good response to the therapies.

Damascus, 8 March 2025

In recent days, Syria has witnessed a dangerous escalation of violence, brutality, and killings, resulting in attacks on innocent civilians, including women and children. Homes have been violated, their sanctity disregarded, and properties looted—scenes that starkly reflect the immense suffering endured by the Syrian people.

The Christian Churches while strongly condemning any act that threatens civil peace, denounce and condemn the massacres targeting innocent civilians, and call for an immediate end to these horrific acts, which stand in stark opposition to all human and moral values.

His holiness Pope Francis sends a message to a pilgrimage of the Italian Movement for Life, and calls on Christians to take the side of unborn children, whom he says represent every person who has no voice.

By Devin Watkins

As he recovers from bilateral pneumonia at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, Pope Francis has sent a message to participants in a pilgrimage organized by the Italian Movement for Life.

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin read the message on the Pope’s behalf on Saturday at Mass for the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter’s Basilica.

His Holiness Pope Francis had a good night and continues to rest, according to the Holy See Press Office on Saturday morning.

By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office released a brief statement on Saturday morning about the Pope’s health.

“The night passed quietly; the Pope is resting,” read the statement. During the morning, the Pope resumed the prescribed therapies, including motor physiotherapy.

On Sunday, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will read the Pope's homily prepared for the Mass in St. Peter’s Square for the Jubilee of the World of Volunteering. The text of the noonday Angelus is expected to be released as on previous Sundays.

In the evening of Friday, the first week of Great Lent, 22nd February / 7th March 2025, at the Catholicon of the Sacred Church of the Holy Sepulchre and within the framework of the service of the Small Compline, the canon of the Theotokos was chanted, with the First Stasis of the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary was read by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, who also presided over the entire service. The chanting was conducted by the Chief Cantor and Deacon Eustathios Tsoumanis, with the participation of a devout congregation of monks, nuns, and laity, in the presence of the Consul General of Greece in Jerusalem, Mr Dimitrios Angelosopoulos, and members of the Greek Consulate.

During this service, His Beatitude delivered a sermon to the faithful, in Greek, which follows:

“An angel was sent from heaven, to say to the Theotokos: Hail!  And with a voice that transcended the bodily form, beholding Thee, O Lord, incarnate, he was astonished and stood, crying out to her these words: Hail, O heavenly ladder, by which God descended; Hail, O bridge leading those from earth to heaven.”

General Secretariat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem

The Holy Synod of Jerusalem convened at the Patriarchate in Jerusalem on Thursday, March 6, 2025 (Gregorian calendar), corresponding to February 21 (Julian calendar). The session was presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches with the participation of the members of the Holy Synod.

His Beatitude, together with the members of the Holy Synod, deliberated on various administrative, ecclesiastical, and pastoral matters concerning the Patriarchate, its monasteries, churches, clergy, and faithful. At the outset, His Beatitude and the members observed a moment of silence and prayer for the repose of the late Archbishop Anastasios of Albania, whose distinguished role in the Orthodox world, esteemed ecclesiastical standing, and tireless dedication to preserving the unity of the Orthodox Church were commended. His Beatitude also acknowledged his significant contributions to the revitalization of the Orthodox Church in Albania through his wisdom and faith. Additionally, prayers were offered in remembrance of the late Archimandrite Ierotheos, the former Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Theodosius in Ubeidiya, in recognition of his long years of service to the Patriarchate and the Brotherhood of the Holy Sepulchre.

On Friday, March 7, 2025, the Friday after Ash Wednesday, His Beatitude Cardinal Patriarch Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, presided over a solemn Mass commemorating the Crowning of Our Lord Jesus Christ with Thorns. The celebration took place at the Basilica of the Ecce Homo Convent, run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion and the Chemin Neuf Community, in the Old City of Jerusalem, near the First Station of the Via Dolorosa.

Among the concelebrants were Mr. Nicolas Kassianides, Consul General of France in Jerusalem, as well as numerous consecrated men and women from various religious orders in Jerusalem, along with the faithful.

Reflecting on the Gospel passage recounting the Mockery of Jesus by the Soldiers (Mt. 27:27-31), Cardinal Pizzaballa highlighted the stark contrast between the perspectives of the people and that of Jesus in this moment of suffering. He drew attention to the choice made by the crowd—the release of Barabbas, whose name means “son of the father,” instead of Jesus, the true Son of God—emphasizing how Christ’s sacrifice ultimately secured humanity’s redemption from sin.

The Media Office of the Latin Patriarchate is pleased to announce the launch of the "Way of the Cross" prayer app, designed to accompany the faithful in their meditation on the Passion of Christ during the Lenten season.

Luke 4:1-13

The evangelist Luke places the episode of Jesus' temptations in the desert immediately after the section on the genealogy (Luke 3:23-38). And unlike Matthew, in his account of the generations that have preceded the birth of Jesus, he goes back not only to Abraham, but even to the first man, Adam.

Chapter 3 of the Gospel therefore ends with the words: "...son of Adam, son of God" (Luke 3:38).

Immediately afterwards, the account of the temptations begins (Luke 4:1-13), and for the reader of the Gospel, the connection is clear and immediate: Adam, the Son of God, is not only the first man, but also the first man to be tempted. The serpent suggests a different word than the Creator had spoken to him, and Adam, together with his wife Eve, listens to it. From the very beginning, man is called upon to face temptation and sin, the freedom to decide for or against goodness and life.

The Holy Father's clinical condition remains stable compared to the past few days. No episodes of crisis or fever have been reported. The prognosis remains reserved. Given the stability of his condition, the next medical bulletin will be issued on Saturday.

By Vatican News 

The Holy See Press Office issued the following medical update on His Holiness Pope Francis' health on Friday evening. The Pope is receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital.

“The Holy Father's clinical condition has remained stable compared to previous days.

From the morning of Ash Monday, 18th February / 3rd March 2025, to Ash Wednesday, 20th February / 5th March 2025, the services of Matins with the Hours in the morning and the service of the Great Compline in the evening were held. On the morning of Ash Wednesday, the service of Matins was followed by the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Kyrios Kyrios Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, with the participation of the Holy Sepulchre Fathers, bishops, priests, monks, nuns, and pilgrims, along with Professor Yagos.

As his clinical condition remained stable with no new respiratory episodes, his Holiness Pope Francis called the Catholic parish in Gaza and carried out several work activities, according to the Holy See Press Office on Wednesday evening.

By Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office released the following statement on Wednesday evening providing the daily medical update on Pope Francis' health.

"The Holy Father remained stable today as well, without any episodes of respiratory insufficiency.

"As planned, he utilized supplemental, high-flow oxygenation, and non-invasive mechanical ventilation will be resumed tonight.

In the Wednesday morning update on the Pope's health, the Holy See Press Office says His Holiness Pope Francis has had a restful night in Rome's Gemelli Hospital, where he is being treated for bilateral pneumonia, and woke up slightly after 8 a.m. this morning.

By Vatican News 

Pope Francis rested well overnight and woke up slightly after 8 a.m. this morning, according to a statement published on Wednesday morning by the Holy See Press Office.

The Pope, this morning continued his treatment and respiratory physiotherapy. As planned, he transitioned from non-invasive mechanical ventilation at night to the high-flow oxygen therapy through nasal cannulas. Though within a complex framework, the Pope's situation this morning seems stable.

The Pope is receiving treatment for bilateral pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. His overall clinical condition remains stable, including heart, kidney, and blood values.

On Tuesday evening, the Holy See Press Office, in its evening medical update on the Holy Father's health noted that the Pope's clinical condition remained stable during the day and that he did not experience episodes of respiratory failure or bronchospasm.

His Holiness Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of March 2025, and invites everyone to pray for "families in crisis," as he acknowledges that no family is perfect, but that when we forgive our family members, we can rediscover peace.

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

Pope Francis' monthly prayer intention this March is for "families in crisis."

His Holiness Pope Francis has not manifested any episodes of respiratory insufficiency or bronchospasm. He is alert, without fever, and has cooperated with the treatments. Today, he was switched to high-flow oxygen therapy, and tonight, non-invasive mechanical ventilation will be resumed until tomorrow morning as planned. The prognosis remains guarded.

Vatican News

The Holy See Press Office issued the following medical update on Pope Francis Tuesday evening. The Pope is receiving care at Rome's Gemelli Hospital:

The clinical condition of the Holy Father today has remained stable.

To the Diocese of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem 
Lenten Letter 

Dear Brothers and Sisters,  

In this Jubilee year we begin Lent by listening together once again to the proclamation which, through the mouth of the Apostle Paul, fills this special time with hope: “God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting their trespasses against them and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19, second reading of the Ash Wednesday Mass). 

Allow me to share with you some short reflections. 

      1. The Cross of Christ 

This is the heart of Easter, this is the place where the great hope of the Church and the world is born and founded: The violent words of rancor and hatred, the presumptuous speeches of conflict and recrimination cannot prevent God from speaking the word of reconciliation in Christ: Ave Crux, spes unica! …

The Holy See Press Office releases His Holiness Pope Francis' Angelus address as he continues his recovery at Gemelli Hospital. In his message, the Pope expresses gratitude for Prayers and medical care whilst urging continued prayers for peace. Reflecting on the day's Gospel reading, he emphasizes the importance of seeing others with charity and of always speaking with goodness.

By Francesca Merlo

In an Angelus address prepared by His Holiness Pope Francis while he continues his treatment in hospital, and published by the Holy See Press Office, the Pope thanked the faithful for their closeness in his moment of "frailty" and urged them to continue praying for peace in the world, just as they pray for him.

Presided over His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Prelate of Aleppo, HE Archbishop Magar Ashakarian conducted the ordination and consecration ceremony of deacons Garen Yosulkanian and Hagop Joulfayan as priests at St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral in Antelias, with V. Rev. Fr. Shnorhk Ashekian serving as their sponsoring priest.

With the blessing of His Holiness Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Armenian Church, Holy See of Cilicia, and Honorary President of the Middle East Council of Churches, the Cilician brotherhood welcomes Deacons Garen Yosoulkanian and Hagop Joulfayan into its congregation.