Get-well cards from schoolchildren to Pope Francis are seen at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 / Credit: ACI StampaCNA Staff, Feb 23, 2025 / 14:40 pm (CNA).Pope Francis on Sunday was flooded with get-well cards and hand-drawn greetings from schoolchildren in Rome as the Holy Father continues to battle a series of medical emergencies in the city's Gemelli Hospital.The pope was admitted to the hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. After a full week in medical care, the Vatican announced Feb. 22 the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion. The pontiff's condition "remains critical," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement issued Sunday evening Rome time, though he experienced "no further respiratory crisis" since Saturday.'Get well soon so I can hug you'Over the weekend, meanwhile, the pope received dozens of get-well cards from schoolchildren in Rome, urging the Holy Father t...
Get-well cards from schoolchildren to Pope Francis are seen at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 / Credit: ACI Stampa
CNA Staff, Feb 23, 2025 / 14:40 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis on Sunday was flooded with get-well cards and hand-drawn greetings from schoolchildren in Rome as the Holy Father continues to battle a series of medical emergencies in the city's Gemelli Hospital.
The pope was admitted to the hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. After a full week in medical care, the Vatican announced Feb. 22 the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion.
The pontiff's condition "remains critical," the Holy See Press Office said in a statement issued Sunday evening Rome time, though he experienced "no further respiratory crisis" since Saturday.
'Get well soon so I can hug you'
Over the weekend, meanwhile, the pope received dozens of get-well cards from schoolchildren in Rome, urging the Holy Father to recover quickly and sending him wishes of love and healing.
A get-well card to Pope Francis is seen at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. Credit: ACI Stampa
"Dear Pope, I hope you get well soon so I can hug you. I love you so much," read one letter featuring a drawing of the Holy Father reaching out to a young girl.
"I love you very much and we hope you get out of the hospital soon," read another.
Get-well cards from schoolchildren to Pope Francis are seen at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025. Credit: ACI Stampa
Other greetings included creative illustrations, including a drawing of Blessed Carlo Acutis as well as a 3D rendering of Pope Francis opening the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.
Pope Francis on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, was flooded with get-well cards and hand-drawn greetings from schoolchildren in Rome. Credit: ACI Stampa
The Vatican on Sunday said the Holy Father "continues to be alert and well oriented" and continues to receive oxygen therapy "at high flows" through his nose.
Since his situation is "complex," the statement said, the pope's prognosis "remains reserved."
Pope Francis on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, was flooded with get-well cards and hand-drawn greetings from schoolchildren in Rome. Credit: ACI Stampa
On Sunday morning the pope participated in Mass along with those who are caring for him at Gemelli Hospital in Rome.
Some of the letters to Francis, meanwhile, looked forward to his release from the hospital.
"We pray that you get well soon," one read. "It would be a great pleasure for us to have lunch [with you] in our school cafeteria."
An aerial view shows over 4,000 deacons gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for the special jubilee Mass, Feb. 23, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNACNA Newsroom, Feb 23, 2025 / 08:40 am (CNA).Prayers filled St. Peter's Basilica Sunday as Archbishop Rino Fisichella delivered Pope Francis' prepared homily to over 4,000 permanent deacons gathered for a special jubilee Mass, while the pontiff remains hospitalized with pneumonia.The message, centered on selfless service and forgiveness, emphasized three fundamental aspects of diaconal ministry that the pope described as "forgiveness, selfless service, and communion.""Indeed, forgiveness is an indispensable element of every ecclesial vocation and a requirement of every human relationship," the pope's homily stated, read by Fisichella, who serves as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.Deacon candidates lie prostrate during their ordination ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica, Feb. 23, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNADuring the Fe...
An aerial view shows over 4,000 deacons gathered in St. Peter's Basilica for the special jubilee Mass, Feb. 23, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Newsroom, Feb 23, 2025 / 08:40 am (CNA).
Prayers filled St. Peter's Basilica Sunday as Archbishop Rino Fisichella delivered Pope Francis' prepared homily to over 4,000 permanent deacons gathered for a special jubilee Mass, while the pontiff remains hospitalized with pneumonia.
The message, centered on selfless service and forgiveness, emphasized three fundamental aspects of diaconal ministry that the pope described as "forgiveness, selfless service, and communion."
"Indeed, forgiveness is an indispensable element of every ecclesial vocation and a requirement of every human relationship," the pope's homily stated, read by Fisichella, who serves as pro-prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization.
Deacon candidates lie prostrate during their ordination ceremony at St. Peter's Basilica, Feb. 23, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
During the Feb. 23 historic ceremony, 23 men from eight countries were ordained as permanent deacons. The international gathering drew significant delegations from around the world, with Italy sending the largest group, followed by 1,300 deacons from the United States, 656 from France, and substantial numbers from other nations.
The pope's message called deacons to see their ministry as transformative both for themselves and society. "Through your ministry, you devote yourselves to being 'sculptors' and 'painters' of the merciful face of the Father, and witnesses to the mystery of the Triune God," the homily declared.
Archbishop Rino Fisichella performs the ordination rite during the Jubilee Mass for Deacons at St. Peter's Basilica, Feb. 23, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Referencing St. Lawrence, patron saint of deacons, the pope recalled how when asked to hand over the Church's treasures, the saint pointed to the poor and proclaimed: "These are our treasures!" This story served to illustrate the pope's broader message about authentic service and communion.
Fisichella highlighted the pope's spiritual presence in the celebration, noting that while physically absent due to his hospitalization at Rome's Gemelli Hospital, his message resonated deeply through the basilica where "communion takes on its fullest and most meaningful dimension."
Deacons in white albs gather outside St. Peter's Basilica before the Jubilee Mass celebration at the Vatican, Feb. 23, 2025. Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
The Mass marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing jubilee year, with the pope emphasizing that ordination "is not an ascent but a descent," calling for deacons to make themselves "small" in humble service to others.
"Your mission sets you apart from society only to be reimmersed in it in order to enable it to be an ever more open and welcoming place for everyone," the homily stated, describing this as "one of the finest expressions of a synodal Church."
The pope concluded by entrusting the deacons to the Virgin Mary and St. Lawrence, calling them to be "apostles of forgiveness, selfless servants of our brothers and sisters, and builders of communion."
The celebration showcased the universal Church's commitment to diaconal ministry, even as prayers continued for the pope's recovery from bilateral pneumonia.
Judge Frank Caprio served for decades as chief municipal judge in Providence, Rhode Island. / Credit: StephanieRPereira, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsACI Prensa Staff, Feb 23, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).Judge Frank Caprio has become one of the most recognizable faces in the U.S. judicial system for his acts of kindness and compassion. For nearly 40 years, he listened to people who came to the main municipal courthouse in Rhode Island and went out of his way to show them mercy.His work was featured in the four-time Emmy-nominated show "Caught in Providence" and in 2017 videos of his court cases went viral, reaching more than 15 million views.Today, at 88, the retired judge, a Catholic, asks for prayers after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. "EWTN News In Depth" correspondent Colm Flynn recently traveled to Florida to meet the man who is known as "the kindest judge in the world."A judge with a heart"I had the most privileged childhood I could imagine… I had the privi...
Judge Frank Caprio served for decades as chief municipal judge in Providence, Rhode Island. / Credit: StephanieRPereira, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ACI Prensa Staff, Feb 23, 2025 / 09:30 am (CNA).
Judge Frank Caprio has become one of the most recognizable faces in the U.S. judicial system for his acts of kindness and compassion.
For nearly 40 years, he listened to people who came to the main municipal courthouse in Rhode Island and went out of his way to show them mercy.
His work was featured in the four-time Emmy-nominated show "Caught in Providence" and in 2017 videos of his court cases went viral, reaching more than 15 million views.
Today, at 88, the retired judge, a Catholic, asks for prayers after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. "EWTN News In Depth" correspondent Colm Flynn recently traveled to Florida to meet the man who is known as "the kindest judge in the world."
A judge with a heart
"I had the most privileged childhood I could imagine… I had the privilege of being brought up poor," the judge recalled. His father, Antonio Caprio, was an Italian immigrant who worked as a milkman.
"Some mornings he would wake my older brother and I up at 4 in the morning to work with him on the truck. I learned one of the most valuable lessons working with my dad on the truck: I learned how to treat people. I learned understanding. I learned compassion," he said.
Inspired by his father's words, Caprio studied law, passed the bar in 1965, and in 1985 became a judge on the Providence Municipal Court. Many of the deliberations he presided over were televised for more than 20 years on a local television station.
From his first day on the bench, he understood that his role was not only to enforce the law but also to understand the circumstances of those who appeared before him.
"One of the first people who appeared before me was a woman with a number of parking tickets," he said. "She was obstinate, insulting… finally, in an act of desperation, I said to her: 'I'm charging you the full amount and your car's gonna get booted.' I was pretty strong with her. But my father, when he heard about it, said to me, 'She was scared. She has three kids. How's she gonna to feed them? You probably took her money for dinner tonight.' I learned a great lesson that day."
For Caprio, that was a wake-up call. Being in a position of power didn't mean he had to wield it against those who didn't have it. He understood that most of the people who came to his courtroom were ordinary, hardworking people just trying to get by.
Justice with mercy
Over the years, Caprio won the hearts of the public with his humane and empathetic approach. "It's very simple: I just place myself in their shoes, of the person in front of me. Compassion is a very, very strong trait."
One of the cases that touched him most was that of a 96-year-old man who was charged with speeding. "He told me, 'I drive slowly and I only drive when I have to. I was going to the blood work for my boy.' Then I asked him, 'How old is your son? 'And he replied, 'Sixty-three, he's got cancer.' It was an unforgettable moment. His love and dedication as a father was touching."
He also remembers a single mother who came to his court with her young daughter. "She told me, 'I'm doing everything I can, but I can't pay this fine.' I saw the little girl looking at me with concern and I knew I had to help her. It wasn't just about enforcing the law but about being fair in the truest sense of the word."
Regarding his diagnosis, he said: "When they told me, my first reaction was disbelief. But then I thought: I have lived a life full of blessings. I'm not going to let this define my later years."
Today, the judge who brought mercy to justice asks for something in return: prayers. "I just try to be strong. I'm grateful for all the love and support I've received," he said.
Before ending the interview, Caprio left a message for all those who have followed him over the years: "If there's one thing I want you to remember about me, it's that we all deserve a little compassion. In life, kindness always finds its way back."
In his book, he also seeks to leave a simple but concise message: "Be kind to others, be slow to judge, and always show mercy."
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA's Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
North and South Kivu have been embroiled in armed conflict for years. / Credit: MONUSCO/Clara PadovanACI Africa, Feb 23, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).Locals at a village in the embattled North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are appealing for prayers after approximately 70 bodies were found inside a church building in the village.Local sources contacted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International said the killings took place between Feb. 12 and Feb. 15 in Maiba, a village in the eastern region of the DRC. In a report that ACN published on Feb. 21, the sources said that on Feb. 12, rebels from an Islamist terrorist group, originally from Uganda, entered the village and took approximately 100 people hostage.The sources recounted that on Feb. 15, about 70 bodies were discovered inside a Protestant church. "Many of them had been bound and some beheaded. Among the victims were women, children, and the elderly," said the source, which ACN did not ident...
North and South Kivu have been embroiled in armed conflict for years. / Credit: MONUSCO/Clara Padovan
ACI Africa, Feb 23, 2025 / 10:30 am (CNA).
Locals at a village in the embattled North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are appealing for prayers after approximately 70 bodies were found inside a church building in the village.
Local sources contacted by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) International said the killings took place between Feb. 12 and Feb. 15 in Maiba, a village in the eastern region of the DRC.
In a report that ACN published on Feb. 21, the sources said that on Feb. 12, rebels from an Islamist terrorist group, originally from Uganda, entered the village and took approximately 100 people hostage.
The sources recounted that on Feb. 15, about 70 bodies were discovered inside a Protestant church.
"Many of them had been bound and some beheaded. Among the victims were women, children, and the elderly," said the source, which ACN did not identify for fear of reprisals from the many armed groups that operate in the region.
"It is likely that these victims were unable to resist or endure the forced march, because when the rebels take hostages, they make them travel with them, either as reinforcements for their group or as forced labor for the war effort," the source is quoted as telling ACN.
According to the source, abductors force people to carry the loot after raiding villages.
"If you get tired on the way, you're done," the source told ACN. "I believe that is what happened to these 70 people."
According to the same sources, the Maiba massacre was carried out by the armed Islamist group Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), which operates in Uganda and the DRC and has terrorized the local population for over a decade.
"The Islamic groups have stepped up their attacks and raids in remote villages, killing thousands of Congolese civilians. Before they used to be in other areas, but now it is Lubero which is being attacked," the local source told ACN.
The source shared that fear has gripped the village because the residents believe that the terrorists have local collaborators who facilitate their operations.
This Maiba massacre comes at a very delicate time for the region, given the worsening of the humanitarian situation in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, which have seen heavy terrorization by another armed group, the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels.
Reportedly supported by neighboring Rwanda and the Congolese armed forces, the M23 has taken important cities and outposts in the region, including Goma and Bukavu, amid heavy fighting.
ACN's local sources have expressed fear that over the next few days, M23 will take Butembo, North Kivu's second-largest city, as it did Goma and Bukavu.
"We are living through very, very difficult times. We are expecting the rebels to enter the city any moment now, as they are only 70 kilometers [about 44 miles] away from here. There is a lot of psychological suffering in Butembo, because the war is literally at our door. We have seen how other regions were overrun by chaos, and now it seems it is our turn," the source is quoted as saying.
The source concluded with a call for prayers, imploring: "Let us pray. Prayer is what keeps our hope alive amidst this situation we are living through."
This story was first published by ACI Africa, CNA's news partner in Africa, and has been adapted by CNA.
"The Thorn" is a live-action theatrical performance depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that features a cast of more than 40 performers, including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians, and combines choreography, music, and state-of-the-art visuals to create an experience that immerses the audience in the story of Jesus. / Credit: The ThornDenver, Colo., Feb 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).A live-action theatrical performance depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is selling out mainstream venues across the United States as it begins its spring tour visiting 25 cities before Easter. Originally created as a play for youth at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, "The Thorn" has grown into a large-scale production featuring a cast of more than 40 including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians. It combines choreography, music, and state-of-the-art visuals to create an experience that immerses the audience in the story of Jesus.John Bolin, the ...
"The Thorn" is a live-action theatrical performance depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that features a cast of more than 40 performers, including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians, and combines choreography, music, and state-of-the-art visuals to create an experience that immerses the audience in the story of Jesus. / Credit: The Thorn
Denver, Colo., Feb 23, 2025 / 06:00 am (CNA).
A live-action theatrical performance depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is selling out mainstream venues across the United States as it begins its spring tour visiting 25 cities before Easter.
Originally created as a play for youth at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, "The Thorn" has grown into a large-scale production featuring a cast of more than 40 including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians. It combines choreography, music, and state-of-the-art visuals to create an experience that immerses the audience in the story of Jesus.
John Bolin, the creator of "The Thorn," moved to Colorado Springs in 1997 and was asked to volunteer as a youth pastor at New Life Church.
"I wasn't trained as a preacher. My background was in marketing and entertainment but not really in church work," he told CNA in an interview. "Instead of preaching sermons, we would do what I called back then 'illustrated sermons.' So it would involve music and video and choreography and things that I knew would keep young people's attention."
"The Thorn" is a live-action theatrical performance depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that features a cast of more than 40 performers, including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians, and combines choreography, music, and state-of-the-art visuals to create an experience that immerses the audience in the story of Jesus. Credit: The Thorn
One evening during youth group, a 16-year-old girl went up to Bolin crying and holding out her arms. There were visible cut marks on her arms where she had been self-harming. Bolin looked at the young girl and told her: "You don't have to do that because I believe Jesus did that for you 2,000 years ago."
It was then that he decided at the following week's youth group meeting to do an illustrated sermon that portrayed two things: "the price that Jesus paid for us, so that we could identify with his suffering and know that he identifies with our suffering," he shared, and also: "I wanted to show what I call the spiritual battle for the choices, destiny, identity, and calling of young people. That they know that God has a call in their life, but the enemy, I believe, also wants to steal, kill, and destroy God's best plan for them."
That performance for 200 high school students in 1997 was the first of many times "The Thorn" would take the stage. Despite it being what Bolin called "horrible" in terms of costumes, makeup, and production, he said, "I believe God was there and 200 high school students were deeply moved and touched and felt God's love present with them."
The pastor of the church asked Bolin if the show could be performed for Easter, and for the next 10 years, "The Thorn" was performed as an annual Easter tradition in Colorado Springs with thousands of people attending every year.
"Even early on, we were attracting Protestants, Catholics, believers, seekers, agnostics that would come because it was such a different way of communicating and showing the Gospel story that people came from all over the place to experience it," he recalled.
From there, the show became an independent production and began to travel the country performing in large evangelical churches. And then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and it was forced to stop.
Feeling discouraged in 2021, Bolin had the idea of trying to get "The Thorn" into movie theaters. Thanks to the help of some industry connections, Bolin was able to partner with Fathom Events and in March 2023 "The Thorn" was released in theaters across the country.
"The Thorn" is a live-action theatrical performance depicting Jesus' life, death, and resurrection that features a cast of more than 40 performers, including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians, and combines choreography, music, and state-of-the-art visuals to create an experience that immerses the audience in the story of Jesus. Credit: The Thorn
While it played in theaters, Bolin thought that one final tour should take part alongside the theatrical run. He reached out to the pastors of churches that had previously hosted the live performance to ask if they'd be interested in hosting one last time, but, to his surprise, they all said no.
"I honestly think God was at work in that," he said. "So then my wife and I thought, 'Well, what do we do? We feel like there's one more live tour in us, but these churches don't want us.' And I felt like God said, 'Go where I would go,' which is in the middle of the marketplace, in the middle of the public square."
It was then that Bolin felt called to look into getting the show in performing art centers, "where you're not in a particular church or anything like that but instead you go to the public square in these performing art centers and present the Gospel."
"So my wife and I took a huge risk. We actually took out a half-million-dollar loan. And we knew that if it didn't work, we would have to sell our house," Bolin shared. "That's the true story behind the story. We knew [the risk] and we agreed to it. We prayed about it and said, we believe in the story enough. We're going to try it."
The husband-and-wife duo went to work booking 10 venues in different cities and promoting the show themselves. They sold out in nearly all 10 cities.
"That was the beginning of a new chapter and what we see as a miracle," Bolin said.
Now they're taking part in their largest tour yet with performances leading up to Easter, April 20, in 25 cities including Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; Atlanta; Baltimore; and Charlotte, North Carolina, among others. And for the first time, "The Thorn" will be performed in Spanish in six cities — Los Angeles; Fresno, California; San Diego; El Paso and Grand Prairie, Texas; and Reading, Pennsylvania.
Bolin said he hopes those who attend a show during the spring tour will leave seeing "Jesus in a way they never have before. I hope that they can feel connected to him in a way they never have before."
"I want people to leave knowing that it's not just a God that's way out there but that he knows your story, he knows your name."
A statue of St. John Paul II is seen in front of the entrance to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 22, 2025, where Pope Francis continues to receive treatment for respiratory issues. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNACNA Newsroom, Feb 23, 2025 / 06:19 am (CNA).As Pope Francis continued his treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital Sunday, he expressed gratitude to medical staff while marking the approaching third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a prepared Angelus message."On my part, I am confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!" the pontiff said Feb. 23.The Holy Father thanked "the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick."Vatican sources confirmed that following a prolonged respiratory crisis on Saturday, the pope continues to require supplemental oxygen thr...
A statue of St. John Paul II is seen in front of the entrance to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 22, 2025, where Pope Francis continues to receive treatment for respiratory issues. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
CNA Newsroom, Feb 23, 2025 / 06:19 am (CNA).
As Pope Francis continued his treatment at Rome's Gemelli Hospital Sunday, he expressed gratitude to medical staff while marking the approaching third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in a prepared Angelus message.
"On my part, I am confidently continuing my hospitalization at the Gemelli Hospital, carrying on with the necessary treatment; and rest is also part of the therapy!" the pontiff said Feb. 23.
The Holy Father thanked "the doctors and health workers of this hospital for the attention they are showing me and the dedication with which they carry out their service among the sick."
Vatican sources confirmed that following a prolonged respiratory crisis on Saturday, the pope continues to require supplemental oxygen through nasal cannulas. The latest medical bulletin noted that he also received a blood transfusion to address platelet deficiency associated with anemia.
Despite his health challenges, Pope Francis spoke about current pastoral matters: He acknowledged the ordination of new permanent deacons at St. Peter's Basilica, where Archbishop Rino Fisichella presided over the ceremony for the Jubilee of Deacons in the pope's absence.
The pope had special words for the newly ordained deacons: "Dear brother deacons, you dedicate yourselves to the Word and to the service of charity; you carry out your ministry in the Church with words and deeds, bringing God's love and mercy to everyone."
Turning to global concerns, Francis marked Monday's "painful and shameful occasion" of the third anniversary of the "large-scale war against Ukraine." He renewed his solidarity with "the suffering Ukrainian people" and called for prayers for victims of armed conflicts worldwide, specifically mentioning Palestine, Israel, the Middle East, Myanmar, Kivu, and Sudan.
The pope also expressed appreciation for the many messages of support he has received, particularly noting letters and drawings from children.
"Thank you for this closeness and for the prayers of comfort I have received from all over the world!" he said, entrusting himself to the intercession of Mary.
Religious sisters gather outside Gemelli hospital to pray a rosary for Pope Francis on Feb. 22, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAVatican City, Feb 23, 2025 / 06:59 am (CNA).Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. After a full week in medical care, the Vatican announced Feb. 22 the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion. Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:
Religious sisters gather outside Gemelli hospital to pray a rosary for Pope Francis on Feb. 22, 2025 / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Vatican City, Feb 23, 2025 / 06:59 am (CNA).
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. After a full week in medical care, the Vatican announced Feb. 22 the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion.
Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:
Pope Francis attends the general audience at the Vatican on Feb. 12, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez / EWTN NewsCNA Newsroom, Feb 22, 2025 / 14:11 pm (CNA).Pope Francis remains in critical condition and "is not out of danger," the Holy See Press Office announced Saturday evening in Rome.The 88-year-old pontiff "experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity" Saturday morning that required the administration of high-flow oxygen, according to the Vatican's medical update.Blood tests revealed a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), associated with anemia, which required blood transfusions. While the Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, he is "more uncomfortable than yesterday," the statement said, describing the prognosis as guarded.The Vatican confirmed earlier Saturday that the pope will not lead the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer on Feb. 23. During a press conference at the Gemelli hospital on Friday, the medical team caring for th...
Pope Francis attends the general audience at the Vatican on Feb. 12, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez / EWTN News
CNA Newsroom, Feb 22, 2025 / 14:11 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis remains in critical condition and "is not out of danger," the Holy See Press Office announced Saturday evening in Rome.
The 88-year-old pontiff "experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity" Saturday morning that required the administration of high-flow oxygen, according to the Vatican's medical update.
Blood tests revealed a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia), associated with anemia, which required blood transfusions.
While the Holy Father remains alert and spent the day in an armchair, he is "more uncomfortable than yesterday," the statement said, describing the prognosis as guarded.
The Vatican confirmed earlier Saturday that the pope will not lead the traditional Sunday Angelus prayer on Feb. 23. During a press conference at the Gemelli hospital on Friday, the medical team caring for the pontiff had described his condition as serious, noting that Pope Francis was fully aware of his situation.
Religious sisters and faithful gather at Gemelli hospital to pray the rosary for Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 22, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNAVatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 14:20 pm (CNA).Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. After a full week in medical care, the Vatican announced Feb. 22 the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion. Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:
Religious sisters and faithful gather at Gemelli hospital to pray the rosary for Pope Francis on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 22, 2025. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA
Vatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 14:20 pm (CNA).
Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, to undergo testing and treatment for bronchitis, the Vatican said. After a full week in medical care, the Vatican announced Feb. 22 the Holy Father had suffered a respiratory crisis and required a blood transfusion.
Follow here for the latest news on Pope Francis' health and hospitalization:
Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, where Bernini's gorgeous bronze monument to the Chair of Peter acts as a massivebronze reliquary for the historic wooden chair. / Credit: Vatican MediaVatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).Every year on Feb. 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, a tradition that dates back more than 1,600 years.The feast honors not just a physical chair but what it represents: the authority of St. Peter, the first pope, and the unbroken line of his successors.References to the "Chair of Peter" date back to the early centuries of Christianity. St. Jerome, a biblical scholar of the fourth century, wrote in a letter: "I follow no leader save Christ, so I enter into communion with … the Chair of Peter, for this I know is the rock upon which the Church is built."The feast itself has been celebrated on Feb. 22 since at least A.D. 336, according to Monsignor Tiziano Ghirelli, a canon of St. Peter's Basilica. ...
Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, where Bernini's gorgeous bronze monument to the Chair of Peter acts as a massive
bronze reliquary for the historic wooden chair. / Credit: Vatican Media
Vatican City, Feb 22, 2025 / 11:00 am (CNA).
Every year on Feb. 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, a tradition that dates back more than 1,600 years.
The feast honors not just a physical chair but what it represents: the authority of St. Peter, the first pope, and the unbroken line of his successors.
References to the "Chair of Peter" date back to the early centuries of Christianity. St. Jerome, a biblical scholar of the fourth century, wrote in a letter: "I follow no leader save Christ, so I enter into communion with … the Chair of Peter, for this I know is the rock upon which the Church is built."
The feast itself has been celebrated on Feb. 22 since at least A.D. 336, according to Monsignor Tiziano Ghirelli, a canon of St. Peter's Basilica. By the fifth century, its importance had grown, with the imperial family participating in celebrations at the old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in 450 and 467.
The word "cathedra" refers to the seat of the bishop, which is why the mother church of a diocese is known as a cathedral. The bishop of Rome, as Peter's successor, holds a unique role in guiding the Church.
The Altar of the Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, where Bernini's bronze monument to the Chair of Peter acts as a massive bronze reliquary for the historic wooden chair. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Benedict XVI explained in a 2006 catechesis that the Chair of Peter "is the symbol of the bishop's authority and in particular, of his 'magisterium,' that is, the evangelical teaching which, as a successor of the apostles, he is called to safeguard and to transmit to the Christian community."
The phrase "ex cathedra" — Latin for "from the chair" — is still used to describe the pope's most authoritative teachings.
"Celebrating the 'chair' of Peter means attributing a strong spiritual significance to it and recognizing it as a privileged sign of the love of God, the eternal Good Shepherd, who wanted to gather his whole Church and lead her on the path of salvation," Benedict said.
Yes, there is actually a chair relic kept in St. Peter's Basilica
In addition to the symbolic meaning, there is also a physical relic known as the Chair of St. Peter housed in St. Peter's Basilica.
The wooden chair, dating back to the ninth century, was displayed for public veneration last fall amid the restoration efforts underway in the basilica.
Prior to that, the chair was last publicly exhibited in 1867, when Pope Pius IX allowed it to be seen for 12 days to mark the 1,800th anniversary of the martyrdom of Peter and Paul. Before that, the chair had not been seen since 1666 when it was first encased inside Gian Lorenzo Bernini's monumental bronze sculpture under the stained-glass Dove of the Holy Spirit window at the basilica's apse.
Historical records indicate that the wooden chair was likely a gift from Holy Roman Emperor Charles the Bald to Pope John VIII in 875. It features ivory panels depicting scenes from Greek mythology, including the labors of Hercules.
Pope Francis venerates the chair of St. Peter at the Synod on Synodality closing Mass on Oct. 27, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media
During the Middle Ages, the popes were solemnly enthroned on the chair. Innocent III used the wooden chair for his consecration on Feb. 22, 1198.
"Since the 11th century, the feast of Feb. 22 has been celebrated in Rome, and at the Vatican Basilica, with particular emphasis," Ghirelli explained.
Bernini's monument
In the 17th century, Pope Alexander VII commissioned Bernini to create an elaborate reliquary to house the chair. Bernini's design, completed in 1666, features a gilded bronze throne elevated above the ground crowned by a stained-glass window depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove.
The structure is supported by statues of four doctors of the Church — two from the West, St. Augustine and St. Ambrose, and two from the East, St. John Chrysostom and St. Athanasius — symbolizing the unity of the Church through the ages, bringing together the teachings of both the Latin and Greek Church Fathers.
Above the throne, cherubs hold a papal tiara and keys, a reference to the authority given to Peter in the Gospel of Matthew: "You are Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my Church."
A physical relic known as the Chair of St. Peter is housed in St. Peter's Basilica. The wooden chair, dating back to the ninth century, was displayed for public veneration in the fall of 2024 amid the restoration efforts underway in the basilica. Credit: Matthew Bunson
Though the chair relic is once again enclosed within Bernini's sculpture, visitors to St. Peter's Basilica continue to pause before this symbol of the special mission of Peter and his successors to pray for the pope and his intentions.
"As we contemplate it with the wonder of faith," Pope Francis said, "let us remember that this is the chair of love, unity, and mercy, according to Jesus' command to the Apostle Peter not to lord it over others but to serve them in charity."
Get-well cards from schoolchildren to Pope Francis are seen at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 / Credit: ACI Stampa
