Pope Francis

Pope Leaves Faithful Guessing Over Easter Appearances

Pope Francis may be on the mend, but as Easter nears, Catholic faithful are wondering how much of the celebrations the 88-year-old will be able to take part in after battling life-threatening pneumonia. The week of Easter is the most significant religious holiday in the Christian calendar and is packed with events, from the Way of the Cross ...

Pope Francis Calls for Peace in Lebanon, 50 Years After the Start of the Civil War

Pope Francis turned his thoughts to Lebanon during Palm Sunday celebrations. Speaking briefly from St. Peter’s Square as he recovers from pneumonia, the Pope issued a powerful appeal for peace across several regions of the world, with a special mention of Lebanon. “Let us also remember Lebanon, where the civil war broke out 50 years ago, so ...

Recovering Pope Delights Crowd in Vatican Square

Pope Francis on Palm Sunday delighted worshippers with an impromptu tour of St. Peter's Square, against the advice of his doctors to avoid crowds while recovering from pneumonia. For the second Sunday in a row after the longest hospital stay of his papacy, the 88-year-old pontiff left his Vatican quarters, handing out sweets to children and ...

Recovering Pope 'Happy' to Get Out and About: Vatican

Pope Francis was "happy" to get out and about this week but while his health is improving, it is too soon to confirm his participation in Easter celebrations, the Vatican said Friday. The 88-year-old Catholic leader, who is recovering from life-threatening pneumonia, has appeared at three unscheduled events in recent days -- including a ...

Recovering Pope Makes Surprise Appearance with Crowd at Vatican Square

Pope Francis, who is recovering after a serious case of pneumonia, made a surprise public appearance Sunday as he mingled with crowds at the Vatican just two weeks after leaving the hospital. "A good Sunday to all. Thank you very much", the 88-year-old Pope said as he was wheeled through Saint Peter's Square in his wheelchair after ...

Pope Improving, Vatican Hints at Sunday Appearance

Pope Francis is showing "slight improvements" as he recovers from life-threatening pneumonia, the Vatican said Friday, hinting that the 88-year-old pontiff could appear this weekend for the Angelus prayer. The head of the Catholic Church spent five weeks in Rome's Gemelli hospital before being discharged on March 23 to his home in the Vatican, ...

Convalescing Pope Francis's Condition Improving: Vatican

A chest X-ray has confirmed a "slight improvement" in Pope Francis's lungs as he recovers from five weeks in hospital with life-threatening pneumonia, the Vatican said on Tuesday. The 88-year-old Catholic leader left Rome's Gemelli hospital on March 23 after a stay in which doctors said he had almost died twice, returning to the Vatican for a ...

Pope Expresses Gratitude in First Public Appearance Since February 14

Pope Francis greeted and thanked the faithful from a balcony of Rome's Gemelli hospital Sunday, the first time the 88-year-old has been seen in public since his admission on February 14. "Thank you, everyone," a weak-sounding Francis said into a microphone as he sat in a wheelchair, waving gently to hundreds of people gathered below ...

Rediscovering Jean Ducruet: The Man Who Preserved Saint Joseph University

The chaplaincy of Saint Joseph University (USJ) had the inspired idea this year to honor Father Jean Ducruet (1922–2010), rector of USJ from 1975 to 1995, by dedicating its 8th Jesuit Week (March 10–14) to him. This tribute coincided with the 150th anniversary of the university’s founding in 1875. To rediscover Father Jean Ducruet, one need ...

Pope Seen Praying from Hospital Chapel in photo Released by Vatican

The Vatican on Sunday released the first photograph of Pope Francis since the 88-year-old pontiff was admitted more than a month ago to hospital for pneumonia in both lungs. The photo shows the pope, bare-headed, seated in a wheelchair and wearing a white robe and purple shawl, in front of a simple altar with a crucifix on the wall. Taken from ...