Kenya Insights

Tag: Pope Francis

  • Pope Francis’ Popemobile to Become Mobile Health Unit for Children in Gaza

    Pope Francis’ Popemobile to Become Mobile Health Unit for Children in Gaza

    In a final act of compassion and legacy, Pope Francis’ Popemobile is being repurposed into a mobile health unit traveling across Gaza to provide crucial medical care for children.

    This transformation is part of the Vatican’s plan to carry out the Pope’s final wishes, extending his legacy of peace, care, and healing.

    The Popemobile, once a symbol of the Pope’s worldwide outreach, will now serve as a life-saving vehicle in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

    The conversion of the Popemobile into a medical vehicle reflects the Pope’s deep commitment to the well-being of others. It also reflects his love for peace and his desire to leave behind a legacy of helping those in need, even in his final days. [Photo/Courtesy]

    Popemobile’s New Mission in Gaza

    The Popemobile is not just a car; it has been a constant companion for Pope Francis as he made his rounds to greet the public.

    For years, the vehicle has carried him through crowds, offering blessings and providing moments of connection between the Pope and the people. However, its role is evolving.

    The Vatican has revealed plans to transform the Popemobile into a mobile health clinic designed to help children in Gaza. This vehicle, which has served the Pope so well, will now provide critical healthcare to the most vulnerable.

    In Gaza, where healthcare infrastructure is often overwhelmed, a mobile health unit could be a game-changer. Children, in particular, have suffered from the lack of medical resources in this region, and the Popemobile will address some of their pressing needs.

    This new mission aligns with Pope Francis’ long-standing advocacy for peace and social justice, especially in regions plagued by conflict and poverty.

    The conversion of the Popemobile into a medical vehicle reflects the Pope’s deep commitment to the well-being of others.

    It also reflects his love for peace and his desire to leave behind a legacy of helping those in need, even in his final days. The Vatican is currently putting the finishing touches on this project, which will serve the children of Gaza in ways that will extend beyond the Pope’s life.

    The Popemobile’s Journey from Blessings to Healthcare

    The Popemobile has seen some of the world’s most notable events, from mass gatherings to private blessings. Its transformation into a mobile clinic marks the start of a new chapter for this unique vehicle.

    Engineers originally designed the vehicle to carry the Pope safely through large crowds, and they are now adapting it to serve as a vital tool for delivering healthcare to children with no other options.

    The medical team will fully equip the unit to provide basic healthcare services, vaccinations, and emergency treatment.

    Doctors and nurses will accompany the vehicle, providing medical care to children across Gaza. The vehicle’s mobility allows it to reach areas that may not have accessible healthcare facilities, bringing much-needed services to children in remote or underserved locations.

    A Legacy of Peace and Healing

    Pope Francis’ decision to repurpose his Popemobile into a mobile health unit for Gaza is not just an act of charity. It is a reflection of his unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and inclusion.

    Pope Francis has always emphasized the importance of supporting the vulnerable and marginalized, particularly children, and this project embodies that ethos.

    By sending the Popemobile to Gaza, the Pope is fulfilling his vision of a world where peace is at the forefront, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

    Gaza, as one of the world’s most conflict-ridden areas, is a symbol of the suffering that children often endure. The mobile health unit will offer a lifeline to those who are often forgotten in the chaos of war.

    In the final years of his papacy, Pope Francis made a point of focusing on the well-being of vulnerable populations.

    From advocating for refugees to addressing climate change, his leadership has consistently pushed for inclusivity and care for all. The Popemobile’s transformation into a mobile clinic is a fitting tribute to his dedication to these values.

    The Impact Popemobile Will Have on Children in Gaza

    The mobile health unit is expected to profoundly transform the lives of children in Gaza. With limited access to healthcare and an overwhelming number of medical needs, the children in this region often suffer from preventable diseases and lack basic treatments.

    The Popemobile will offer them a chance for better health and a brighter future. The mobile unit will make regular trips throughout Gaza, visiting schools, communities, and refugee camps where children are most in need of medical attention.

    These visits will actively ensure that healthcare workers reach every child, even in the most challenging circumstances.

    A Symbol of Compassion

    Pope Francis’ Popemobile is more than just a vehicle; it is a symbol of his journey to spread compassion, peace, and goodwill.

    As it takes on this new role as a mobile health clinic, it becomes an even greater symbol of care, proving that the Pope’s message of peace is one that extends beyond words to meaningful action.

    The Popemobile’s new mission will stand as a testament to Pope Francis’ lasting impact on the world and his unyielding devotion to helping those who need it the most.

    This transformation of the Popemobile into a mobile health clinic is not just about medical care—it’s about ensuring that the legacy of Pope Francis lives on in the hearts of children who will benefit from this gift for years to come.

  • The Pope: Spiritual Leader and Head of State

    The Pope: Spiritual Leader and Head of State

    In global diplomacy, the Pope’s dual role as both spiritual leader of the Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City creates unique responsibilities and relationships with nations worldwide. Recent controversy surrounding diplomatic protocols highlights how this duality is often misunderstood.

    The Vatican’s Sovereign Status

    The Pope serves as the sovereign of Vatican City State, a position formalized by the 1929 Lateran Treaty with Italy that established Vatican City as an independent state. This 109-acre territory, the world’s smallest sovereign state, operates with all the diplomatic functions of larger nations.

    As head of state, the Pope:

    – Receives and sends ambassadors (currently maintains diplomatic relations with over 180 countries)
    – Signs international treaties and agreements
    – Issues passports and postage
    – Maintains observer status at the United Nations

    Diplomatic Protocols and Responsibilities

    When a pope dies, it’s customary for world leaders to send condolences regardless of religious differences, acknowledging the diplomatic relationship between their nation and the Holy See. These messages reflect standard diplomatic protocol between states rather than religious affiliation.

    Historical Context: Christianity’s Jewish Roots

    The historical and geographical connections between Judaism and Christianity are well-documented. Christianity emerged from Jewish traditions in what is now Israel:

    – Jesus was born in Bethlehem and raised in Nazareth, both in present-day Israel
    – The first apostles, including Peter (considered the first Pope by Catholic tradition), were Jewish and from the Galilee region
    – Early Christian communities developed from Jewish communities throughout the Mediterranean

    Understanding the Confusion

    The confusion about the Pope’s status as a head of state likely stems from the unique nature of the Vatican’s governance structure. Unlike most nations, Vatican City’s leadership is determined not through general elections but through the Papal conclave, where Cardinals elect the new Pope.

    This intersection of religious and political authority creates a distinctive diplomatic entity that doesn’t fit neatly into conventional categories of governance, sometimes leading to misconceptions about appropriate diplomatic protocols.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

  • In Photos: Pope Francis’ Funeral Staged in Front of St. Peter’s Square

    In Photos: Pope Francis’ Funeral Staged in Front of St. Peter’s Square

    Pope Francis’ wooden coffin was carried into St. Peter’s Square on Saturday at the start of a funeral Mass attended by a multitude of mourners, including powerful world leaders, clerics and pilgrims.

    Applause rang out as the coffin, inlaid with a large cross, was brought out of St. Peter’s Basilica and into the sun-filled square by 14 white-gloved pallbearers.

    Bells tolled as the last of the leaders from more than 150 countries took their places. Dignitaries included U.S. President Donald Trump, who clashed with Francis on numerous occasions over their starkly contrasting positions on immigration.

    The open-air ceremony, which will be celebrated by 220 cardinals, 750 bishops and more than 4,000 other priests, was due to last 90 minutes.

    The pope’s casket was placed on a carpet in front of the altar, with the book of gospels laid on top, as the Vatican choirs sang.

    Massed ranks of red-robed cardinals sat to one side of the altar, facing rows of black-suited world leaders on the other side. In front of them were hundreds of priests in white vestments and then thousands of ordinary mourners.

    The faithful hurried to the Vatican from the early hours while many camped out to try and secure spots at the front of the crowd for the ceremony.

    “We want to say goodbye because he (was a) living saint, very humble and simple,” said Mary James, a Franciscan nun, who had stayed up overnight to guarantee a good place.

    The Argentine pope died on Monday, aged 88, following a stroke. His death ushered in a meticulously planned period of transition for the 1.4-billion member Roman Catholic Church, marked by ancient ritual, pomp and mourning.

    Over the past three days, around 250,000 people filed past his body, which was laid out in an open coffin before the altar of the cavernous, 16th-century St. Peter’s Basilica.

    Before taking their seats, Trump and his wife Melania paid their respects to Francis’ coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica. The coffin was sealed shut on Friday night.

    Among the other heads of state who flew into Rome were the presidents of Argentina, France, Gabon, Germany, the Philippines and Poland, together with the prime ministers of Britain and New Zealand, and many European royals.

    Applause rang out in the square when Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appeared. Zelenskiy met Trump while both were in Rome, a spokesman for the Ukrainian leader said, but gave no details.

    The Vatican has said some 250,000 mourners were expected to fill the vast, cobbled esplanade and access routes to the basilica. The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, a 91-year-old Italian prelate.

    “You can feel a lot of energy, yes, a little bit of despair because we are tired, but ultimately we want to come and say ‘thank you’, thanks to Pope Francis for all he did for his church,” said Eduardo Valencia, visiting from Mexico.

    The first non-European pope for almost 13 centuries, Francis battled to reshape the Roman Catholic Church during his 12-year reign, siding with the poor and marginalised, while challenging wealthy nations to help migrants and reverse climate change.

    “Francis left everyone a wonderful testimony of humanity, of a holy life and of universal fatherhood,” said a formal summary of his papacy, written in Latin, and placed next to his body.

    Traditionalists pushed back at his efforts to make the Church more transparent, while his pleas for an end to conflict, divisions and rampant capitalism often fell on deaf ears.

    BREAK WITH TRADITION

    The pope shunned much of the pomp and privilege usually associated with the papacy and will carry that desire for greater simplicity into his funeral, having rewritten the elaborate, book-length funeral rites used previously.

    Francis also opted to forego a centuries-old practice of burying popes in three interlocking caskets made of cypress, lead and oak. Instead, he has been placed in a single, zinc-lined wooden coffin, which was sealed closed overnight.

    In a further break with tradition, he will be the first pope to be buried outside the Vatican in more than a century, preferring Rome’s Basilica of St. Mary Major, some 5.5 kilometres (3.4 miles) from St. Peter’s, as his final resting place.

    His tomb has just “Franciscus”, his name in Latin, inscribed on the top. A reproduction of the simple, iron-plated cross he used to wear around his neck hangs above the marble slab.

    His funeral motorcade will drive him through the city for one last time, allowing Romans to say farewell.

    Italy has mounted one of the biggest security operations the country has seen since the funeral of John Paul II. It has closed the airspace over the city and called in extra security forces, with anti-aircraft missiles and patrol boats guarding the event.

    As soon as Francis is buried, attention will switch to who might succeed him.

    The secretive conclave to elect a successor is unlikely to begin before May 6, and might not start for several days after that, giving cardinals time to hold regular meetings beforehand to sum each other up and assess the state of the Church, beset by financial problems and ideological divisions.

  • Two Papal Deaths 20 Years Apart, One Expected, The Other A Surprise

    Two Papal Deaths 20 Years Apart, One Expected, The Other A Surprise

    When Pope John Paul II died on the evening of April 2, 2005, the whole world knew it would be coming at any moment.

    He had been on his deathbed for days and the light in the window of his bedroom overlooking St. Peter’s Square had become a tangible connection with the faithful.

    Twenty years later, the death of Pope Francis on Monday at the age of 88 came as a surprise even though he was still convalescing after a hospital stay for double pneumonia.

    In the past few days, Francis made several public appearances.

    Although very brief, they sent reassuring signals that he was determined to slowly return to work.

    Many Romans were out of town for the Easter holiday, so most of the people who headed to the square after hearing of his death were tourists there largely out of curiosity.

    By contrast, when John Paul died, tens of thousands of people had been praying in the square all day and into the evening.

    Archbishop (now cardinal) Leonardo Sandri was in the papal apartments and called down to Monsignor (now Archbishop) Renato Boccardo, who was leading the rosary and about to start a procession in the Square.

    Sandri told Boccardo to wait.

    He left the papal apartments and joined Boccardo on the steps of St. Peter’s to announce to the crowd that John Paul had “returned to the house of the father”.

    The crowd cried. But it was not surprised.

    Pope Benedict XVI, Francis’ immediate predecessor, died at age 95 in 2022, out of the public limelight after resigning from the papacy in 2013.

    MODEST SURROUNDINGS

    Francis died in his small suite in the Santa Marta guesthouse where he chose to live after his election in 2013, forsaking the spacious papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, which looks out on to St. Peter’s Square and symbolically reaches out to the world.

    The windows of Francis’ apartment look down on a small internal courtyard, close to St. Peter’s Basilica and an imposing centuries-old defensive wall that forms a border between the world’s smallest state from Rome.

    With no one watching from below his windows to represent the embrace of the outside world on Monday morning, Francis died far more privately.

    On Monday morning Cardinal Kevin Farrell, the camerlengo, or chamberlain, who will oversee the running of ordinary business at the Vatican for the next few weeks, announced the pope’s death on the Vatican’s TV channel.

    Farrell spoke from a small room flanked by a few top Vatican officials, looking into a camera. He used the exact same words Sandri had uttered 20 years ago in a much more emotional setting.

    The pope, Farrell said, had “returned to the house of the Father”.

  • Pope Francis’ Cause of Death Revealed

    Pope Francis’ Cause of Death Revealed

    Pope Francis died of a stroke and irreversible heart failure, the director of health of the Vatican City State, Andrea Arcangeli, said in a death certificate released on Monday (Apr 21).

    The 88-year-old Catholic leader died on Monday morning, after he was discharged from a five-week stay in hospital for double pneumonia.

    Pope Francis died at 7:35 am in his apartment at the Santa Marta residence in the Vatican.

    According to the certificate published by the Vatican, the pope had fallen into a coma before passing away early on Monday.

    The pontiff died of “cerebral stroke, coma, irreversible cardiocirculatory collapse”, the death certificate said.

    It added that he had already been affected by a previous episode of acute respiratory failure during his hospital treatment for double pneumonia.

    Pope had also suffered from multiple bronchiectases, arterial hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes, which were not known earlier.

    Burial in St. Mary Major Basilica

    In his final testament, Pope Francis stated that he wished to be buried in Rome’s Basilica of Saint Mary Major and not at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where many of the previous pontiffs were buried.

    In his final will, released by the Vatican, Francis specified that he wanted to be buried “in the ground, without particular decoration”. His will had an inscription of his papal name in Latin: Franciscus.

    Pope’s last message

    Just a day before his demise, the Pope made a public appearance on the occasion of Easter on Sunday (Apr 20), where 35,000 gathered in St. Peter’s Square to hear his message. As per tradition, he delivered the “Urbi et Orbi” blessing, which means “to the city and the world.”

    Pope Francis’ last message was read aloud by Archbishop Diego Ravelli, in which he called for peace in war-torn regions like Gaza, Ukraine, Congo and Myanmar.

  • These Cardinals Are The Top Candidates To Succeed Pope Francis

    These Cardinals Are The Top Candidates To Succeed Pope Francis

    Predicting the outcome of the highly secretive papal conclave is near impossible as cardinals’ positions shift over successive votes and some try to game the system to influence the chances of their favoured – or least-favoured – candidates.

    In the last conclave in 2013, few predicted that Jorge Mario Bergoglio would be elected as Pope Francis. At the moment, speculation is focusing on these men to succeed him:

    Pietro Parolin, 70, Italy

    Seen as a moderate “continuity candidate”, Parolin was close to Francis. He has been the Vatican’s secretary of state since 2013, playing a key role in diplomatic affairs, including delicate negotiations with China and governments in the Middle East. He is regarded as a reliable and trusted papal representative by secular diplomats. In 2018, he was the driving force behind a controversial agreement with the Chinese government on the appointment of bishops, criticised by some as a sellout to the communist regime. Parolin’s critics see him as a modernist and a pragmatist who places ideology and diplomatic solutions above hard truths of the faith. To his supporters, he is a courageous idealist and avid proponent of peace.

    Luis Antonio Tagle, 67, the Philippines

    Tagle, a former archbishop of Manila, would be the first Asian pope, the region with the fastest-growing Catholic population. At one time he was considered to be Francis’s preferred successor and a strong contender to continue the late pope’s progressive agenda, but recently appears to have fallen out of favour. He has suggested that the Catholic church’s stance on gay and divorced couples is too harsh, but has opposed abortion rights in the Philippines.

    Peter Turkson, 76, Ghana

    Turkson would be the first black pope in centuries. He has been vocal on issues such the climate crisis, poverty and economic justice while affirming the church’s traditional positions on the priesthood, marriage between a man and a woman, and homosexuality. However, his views on the latter have loosened and he has argued that laws in many African countries are too harsh. He has spoken out on corruption and human rights.

    Péter Erdő, 72, Hungary

    A leading conservative candidate, Erdő has been a strong advocate for traditional Catholic teachings and doctrine. He would represent a big shift away from Francis’s approach. He is widely regarded as a great intellect and a man of culture. Erdő was a favourite of the late cardinal George Pell who believed he would restore the rule of law in the post-Francis Vatican. In 2015, Erdő appeared to align himself with Hungary’s nationalist prime minister, Viktor Orbán, when he opposed Francis’s call for churches to take in migrants.

    Matteo Zuppi, 69, Italy

    Appointed a cardinal by Francis in 2019, Zuppi is considered to be on the progressive wing of the church, and would be expected to continue Francis’s legacy, sharing the late pope’s concern for the poor and marginalised. He is (relatively) liberal on same-sex relationships. Two years ago, Francis made him the Vatican peace envoy for Ukraine, in which capacity he visited Moscow to “encourage gestures of humanity”. While there he met Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox church and Vladimir Putin’s ally. He has also met Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s president.

    José Tolentino Calaça de Mendonça, 59, Portugal

    Tolentino is one of the youngest potential successors to Francis, which could count against him – ambitious cardinals may not want to wait another 20 or 30 years before another shot at the top job. He has attracted controversy for sympathising with tolerant views on same-sex relationships and allying himself with a feminist Benedictine sister who favours women’s ordination and is pro-choice. He was close to Francis on most issues, and argues that the church must engage with modern culture.

    Mario Grech, 68, Malta

    Grech was seen as a traditionalist but began to embrace more progressive views after Francis was elected in 2013. His supporters argue that his changing opinions show his capacity for growth and change. He has criticised European political leaders who sought to limit the activities of NGO ships and has expressed support for female deacons.

    Pierbattista Pizzaballa, 60, Italy

    Since 2020, Pizzaballa has been the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, a crucial role in advocating for the Christian minority in the Holy Land. After Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, Pizzaballa offered himself as a hostage in exchange for children who were being held by Hamas in Gaza. He visited Gaza in May 2024 after months of negotiations. He would be expected to continue some aspects of Francis’s leadership of the church, but has made few public statements on controversial issues.

    Robert Sarah, 79, Guinea

    Sarah is a traditional, Orthodox cardinal who at one time sought to present himself as a “parallel authority” to Francis, according to a Vatican observer. In 2020, he co-authored a book with the then retired Pope Benedict defending clerical celibacy that was seen as a challenge to Francis’s authority. He has denounced “gender ideology” as a threat to society, and has spoken out against Islamic fundamentalism. Like Turkson, he could make history as the first black pope in centuries.

  • Francis, A Pope For The Internet Age

    Francis, A Pope For The Internet Age

    As an at-times unwitting star on social media, Pope Francis knew how to exploit the internet to preach the gospel, broadening the Church’s appeal while modernising its communications.

    Yet the head of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, who died on Monday, likewise regularly warned against the scourge of disinformation, and in recent years took aim at the possible perils of artificial intelligence.

    It was his predecessor Benedict XVI who created the papal X presence @pontifex in 2012, at a time when the now-Elon Musk owned site was known as Twitter, in a bid at reaching younger people.

    Within months of its creation Benedict stepped down and Francis took over, immediately striking social media gold.

    The handle boasts a total of 50 million followers across its accounts in nine languages, among them English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Polish, German and Arabic.

    Even its account in long-dead Latin boasts one million followers.

    Then, in March 2016, three years to the day after he became pope, the Argentine went even further by creating an Instagram account.

    Today @Franciscus has nearly 10 million followers on the Meta-owned platform.

    As on X, the Vatican posts daily photos and videos, mostly of a religious nature, as well as excerpts from the speeches, texts and public addresses of the religious leader.

    His last video on Instagram, which consisted of an extract of his speech for the Easter Sunday mass, was liked by nearly 400,000 people.

    – ‘Disinformation and polarisation’ –

    That popularity however has not prevented him from criticising the negative effects of social media.

    While they serve “better to connect us”, they can “also reinforce our self-isolation”, he notably said in 2019, adding that “they also lend themselves to the manipulation of personal data”.

    When Musk’s X was accused of spreading false information and manipulating political debate and Europe in January 2024, Francis condemned “disinformation and polarisation, where a few centres of power control an unprecedented mass of data and information”.

    Just a few days earlier, he had already condemned an era of “fake news” and warned against the abuse of AI to “manipulate people’s minds”.

    Francis himself has been the subject of AI-generated images that have gone viral on the web, showing the pontiff partying in a nightclub or getting married.

    In March 2023, images of Pope Francis dressed in a white puffer jacket from luxury label Balenciaga and a bling crucifix in the fashion of American rappers became an internet sensation within a few hours.

    That is not to say that the Catholic Church has eschewed evangelising via AI entirely.

    Today, worshippers wishing to learn more about Catholic faith, dogma and theology can do so on platforms such as CateGPT — a play on the name of AI market leader ChatGPT — and HelloBible.

  • How The Next Pope Is Elected

    How The Next Pope Is Elected

    Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, after 12 years as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

    His death has set in motion the centuries-old process of electing a new Pope.

    What does the Pope do?

    The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church. Roman Catholics believe he represents a direct line back to Jesus Christ. He is considered a living successor to St Peter, who was chief among Christ’s initial disciples, the Apostles.

    That gives him full and unhindered power over the entire Catholic Church and makes him an important source of authority for the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics.

    While many Catholics often consult the Bible for guidance, they can also turn to the teachings of the Pope, which govern the Church’s beliefs and practices.

    About half of all Christians worldwide are Roman Catholics. Other denominations, including Protestants and Orthodox Christians, do not recognise the Pope’s authority.

    The Pope lives in Vatican City, the smallest independent state in the world. It is surrounded by the Italian capital, Rome.

    The Pope does not receive a salary, but all his travel costs and living expenses are paid for by the Vatican.

    A papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate affair, but Pope Francis recently approved plans to make the whole procedure less complex.

    Previous pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead and oak. Pope Francis has opted for a simple wooden coffin lined with zinc.

    He has also scrapped the tradition of placing the Pope’s body on a raised platform – known as a catafalque – in St Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

    Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body remains inside the coffin, with the lid removed.

    Francis will also be the first Pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

    He will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St Mary Major, one of four major papal basilicas in Rome.

    A basilica is a church which has been granted special significance and privileges by the Vatican. The major basilicas have a particular connection to the Pope.

    Who chooses the new Pope?

    Who chooses the next pope
    Who chooses the next pope

    The new Pope has to be chosen by the Catholic Church’s most senior officials, known as the College of Cardinals.

    All men, they are appointed directly by the Pope, and are usually ordained bishops.

    There are currently 252 Catholic cardinals, 138 of whom are eligible to vote for the new Pope.

    The others are over the age of 80, which means they cannot take part in the election, although they can join in the debate over who should be selected.

    When the Pope dies (or resigns, as in the rare case of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013), the cardinals are summoned to a meeting at the Vatican, followed by the conclave, as the election is known.

    During the time between the Pope’s death and the election of his successor, the College of Cardinals governs the Church.

    The election is held in strict secrecy inside the Sistine Chapel, famously painted by Michelangelo.

    Individual cardinals vote for their preferred candidate until a winner is determined, a process which can take several days. In previous centuries, voting has gone on for weeks or months. Some cardinals have even died during conclaves.

    The only clue about how the election is proceeding is the smoke that emerges twice a day from burning the cardinals’ ballot papers. Black signals failure. The traditional white smoke means the new Pope has been chosen.

    After the white smoke goes up, the new Pope normally appears within an hour on the balcony overlooking St Peter’s Square.

    The senior cardinal participating in the conclave will announce the decision with the words “Habemus Papam” – Latin for “we have a Pope”.

    He will then introduce the new Pope by his chosen papal name, which may or may not be his original given name.

    For example, Pope Francis was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, but he chose a different name for his papacy in honour of St Francis of Assisi.

    Who can become the Pope?

     

    In theory, any Roman Catholic man who has been baptised can be considered for election to become Pope.

    In practice, however, the cardinals prefer to select one of their own.

    When the Argentine-born Pope Francis was chosen at the previous conclave in 2013, he became the first pontiff ever to hail from South America, a region that accounts for roughly 28% of the world’s Catholics.

    But historical precedent suggests the cardinals are far more likely to pick a European – and especially an Italian.

    Of the 266 popes chosen to date, 217 have been from Italy.

  • What Happens When The Pope Dies?

    What Happens When The Pope Dies?

    A papal funeral has traditionally been an elaborate affair, but Pope Francis recently approved plans to simplify the entire procedure.

    Previous pontiffs were buried in three nested coffins made of cypress, lead, and oak.

    Pope Francis has opted for a single, simple wooden coffin lined with zinc.

    He has also eliminated the tradition of placing the pope’s body on a raised platform—known as a catafalque—in St. Peter’s Basilica for public viewing.

    Instead, mourners will be invited to pay their respects while his body lies inside the coffin with the lid removed.

    Francis will also be the first pope in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican.

    He will be laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome.

    On Monday, the Vatican announced the death of Pope Francis, setting the stage for the selection of a new head of the worldwide Catholic Church.

    A new pope is chosen under only two circumstances: the death or resignation of the current pope. Typically, the position of pope is a lifelong one, with rare exceptions.

    There is no provision under canon law to remove a pope from office.

    This has posed challenges in the past—for example, during the final months of Pope Saint John Paul II’s papacy.

    He was gravely ill and incapacitated, but the College of Cardinals could not begin the process of conclave until after his death.

    A doctor confirms the pope’s death, but only the Camerlengo (Chamberlain) can initiate the complex series of rituals that follow.

    The Camerlengo serves as the Vatican’s overseer of property and revenues and is responsible for executing the protocols and organizing the funeral.

    The current Camerlengo, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, will refer to a 400-page handbook titled Funeral Rites of the Roman Pontiff, which guides him through the strict protocols governing a papal funeral.

    First, he will call out the pope’s baptismal name—Jorge Mario Bergoglio for Pope Francis—three times.

    This was traditionally done to ensure the pope was deceased and not merely sleeping.

    Only when there is no response does the Camerlengo confirm the official death.

    The next step is the ceremonial destruction of the “Fisherman’s Ring.”

    Also known as the Piscatory Ring, this is an official part of the regalia worn by the pope.

    Historically, the ring served as the pope’s seal on official documents, and its destruction prevented misuse, such as forging documents.

    Today, the act is purely symbolic and marks the end of the pope’s authority.

    Finally, the papal apartments are sealed—a measure historically intended to guard against looting.

    The public’s first indication of a pope’s death is the tolling of the mourning bell at St. Peter’s Basilica.

    The bell rings once for each year of the pope’s life; it tolled 84 times for Pope Saint John Paul II in 2005.

    In contrast, the bells remained silent in 2013 when Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy ended, as he resigned rather than passed away.

    The Vatican has now entered an interregnum period known as Sede Vacante—the throne of St. Peter is empty.

  • Pope Francis Makes Surprise Public Appearance After Leaving Hospital Two Weeks Ago

    Pope Francis Makes Surprise Public Appearance After Leaving Hospital Two Weeks Ago

    CNN  — Pope Francis made a surprise public appearance on Sunday, the first time the leader of the Catholic Church has been seen in public since leaving hospital two week ago.

    Francis greeted crowds at the Vatican and seemed to be in good spirits. He was seated in a wheelchair and wearing what appeared to be a nasal cannula aiding his breathing.

    The 88-year-old pontiff spent five weeks in hospital with pneumonia in February and March. According to his medical team, the pope came close to death during the illness.

    Francis appeared in better health than when he was last seen in public, which was two weeks shortly before he was released from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. At that time, he struggled to speak and raise his arms, but managed to wave to people and gave a thumbs up from a balcony.

    On Sunday, the pope appeared to move his arms around with more ease. His voice was still weak, but stronger than two weeks ago.

    The pope’s appearance had not been previously announced.

    Crowds of worshippers gathered at Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square on Sunday when the pope made his short appearance after a mass dedicated to the sick.

    When the smiling pontiff was wheeled in, those there cheered wildly.

    The Vatican said that the pope went to confession in St Peter’s Basilica on Sunday morning and gathered in before greeting the pilgrims and the faithful in the square.

    Pope Francis is cheered at by faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square at The Vatican, on April 6, 2025. Andrew Medichini/AP
    Pope Francis is cheered at by faithful at the end of a mass in St. Peter’s Square at The Vatican, on April 6, 2025. Andrew Medichini/AP

    Francis was admitted to Gemelli Hospital on February 14, initially suffering from a severe respiratory infection. He was subsequently diagnosed with a polymicrobial infection, which evolved to pneumonia in both lungs.

    He was discharged on March 23 and was expected to convalesce at Casa Santa Marta, his residence in the Vatican. His doctors said in a news conference at the time that he would need to recuperate for at least two months to allow his body time to fully heal.

    The prolonged hospital stay marked the biggest health crisis Francis has experienced since he was elected as pope in 2013.

    His doctors told reporters that there were “two very critical episodes in which the Holy Father’s life was in danger” during the 38 days he was hospitalized.

  • Pope Francis’ Medical Team Wanted to Stop His Treatment, Let Him ‘Die in Peace’

    Pope Francis’ Medical Team Wanted to Stop His Treatment, Let Him ‘Die in Peace’

    Pope Francis’ medical team revealed that his health condition had deteriorated to a critical point, prompting consideration of withholding further treatment to allow for a peaceful passing.

    Francis’ medical team said that the pontiff almost choked on his vomit on February 28, when he suffered a respiratory crisis.

    “There was a real risk he might not make it,” Sergio Alfieri, a doctor at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, told news agency Reuters.

    The 88-year-old made his first public appearance on Sunday (Mar 23) from the hospital balcony before being discharged to bless the crowd since being admitted on February 14.

    “Thank you, everyone,” he said into a microphone while sitting in a wheelchair, waving to hundreds gathered to see him and giving a thumbs-up sign.

    “I can see that woman with yellow flowers, well done,” Francis said smiling to the joyed crowd in his brief appearance.

    Francis was discharged minutes after his appearance and was seen leaving the hospital in a car. He was seen wearing a cannula, a tube tucked into his nostrils to deliver oxygen. He has reached the Vatican to convalesce after the hospital stay.

    Pope Francis had ‘two very critical episodes’

    Dr Alfieri, who was one of the physicians in charge of caring for the pontiff, said that the 88-year-old had “two very critical episodes” during which his “life was in danger, ” according to the BBC.

    He said that Francis was never ventilated and that he always stayed conscious and tried to engage.

    According to the doctors, the Pope will resume work as soon as possible despite the fact that he is not yet fully recovered from pneumonia.

    “We had to choose if we would stop there and let him go, or to go forward and push it with all the drugs and therapies possible, running the highest risk of damaging his other organs,” Alfieri said in an interview with Italy’s Corriere della Sera.

    “In the end, we took this path,” the doctor added.

    (With inputs from agencies)

  • Pope Francis Leaves Hospital After First Public Appearance in Five Weeks

    Pope Francis Leaves Hospital After First Public Appearance in Five Weeks

    Pope Francis left Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Sunday following a five-week stay to be treated for pneumonia, making his first public appearance since February 14 by waving to well-wishers from a balcony moments before he was discharged.

    Francis, 88, went to hospital on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection that became the most serious health crisis of his 12-year papacy.

    A car carrying Francis left the hospital shortly after noon on Sunday, and was accompanied through Rome by a convoy of police vehicles towards the Basilica of Saint Mary Major.

    The pontiff, who has a special devotion to the church and goes there frequently, returned to the Vatican shortly after the visit.

    The pope’s doctors said on Saturday it would still take “a lot of time” for his aging body to fully heal, and said they had prescribed the pontiff a further two months of rest at the Vatican.

    Just before leaving the hospital on Sunday, Francis smiled and waved at a group of well-wishers gathered outside. He used a wheelchair, as he has for several years.

    His face looked swollen and he appeared only for a few moments, speaking briefly, with a feeble voice, to thank one of the members of the crowd below, who had brought yellow flowers.

    He had only been seen by the public once before during his hospital stay, in a photo the Vatican released last week, showing the pontiff at prayer in a hospital chapel.
    Pope Francis waves as he leaves Gemelli Hospital, in Rome, Italy, on Sunday, March 23. Photo by Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
    Pope Francis waves as he leaves Gemelli Hospital, in Rome, Italy, on Sunday, March 23. Photo by Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters

    The pope, who has been receiving oxygen to help him breathe throughout his stay in hospital, was breathing on his own during the public appearance. But he was seen using a small hose under his nose for oxygen while travelling in his car.

    In the moments before the pontiff’s appearance on Sunday, the crowd of hundreds of well-wishers called out for him, chanting “Francis, Francis, Francis”.

    THANKS DOCTORS FOR ‘TIRELESS CARE’

    Francis usually greets people in St. Peter’s Square each Sunday at noon, and offers a brief prayer. He has not been able to do so since February 9, before he entered hospital.

    While the pope did not offer the usual weekly prayer during his public appearance on Sunday, the Vatican released a text it said was prepared by the pontiff.

    “In this long period of hospitalization, I have had the opportunity to experience the patience of the Lord, which I also see reflected in the tireless care of doctors and healthcare workers, as well as in the devotion and hopes of the families of the sick,” said the text.

    Many Catholics around the world had been praying for the pope’s recovery. Pilgrims at the Vatican on Sunday expressed relief at his leaving hospital.

    “This discharge cheers us all up and gives us joy and hope,” said Grazia Mara, an Italian. “We wish him a safe return to his home and a speedy recovery.”

    (Reuters)

  • What We Know About The Health Of Pope Francis

    What We Know About The Health Of Pope Francis

    Pope Francis, 88, who has been in hospital since February 14 with pneumonia in both lungs, has been gradually improving and talk has turned to when he might go home.

    But the Argentine has still not been seen in public since his admission, and in an audio message released on March 6, the octogenarian sounded weak and breathless.

    Here is what we know about the health of Francis, who will mark on Thursday 12 years as head of the Catholic Church and its almost 1.4 billion followers.

    Respiratory attacks

    Francis suffered several respiratory attacks during his stay at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, which raised concerns for his life.

    On February 22 the Vatican said he had that day suffered a “prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis”, and also required blood transfusions for thrombocytopenia, a condition that can prevent clotting and lead to continued bleeding.

    On February 28 the pope suffered “an isolated crisis of bronchospasm” — a tightening of the muscles that line the airways in the lungs — which caused “an episode of vomiting with inhalation”, the Holy See said.

    On March 3 Francis suffered “two episodes of acute respiratory failure” and doctors performed two bronchoscopies in order to remove “abundant secretions”.

    After that, the Vatican said he was wearing an oxygen mask at night, switching during the day to high-flow oxygen delivered through a cannula, a plastic tube tucked into the nostrils.

    Improvements, talk turns to home

    Since March 4, the Vatican has reported gradual improvements in the pope’s condition, and on March 10 announced in a medical bulletin that it was changing his prognosis, which for weeks had been “reserved”, meaning uncertain.

    “The improvements recorded in the previous days have been further consolidated, as confirmed by blood tests and clinical objectivity and the good response to pharmacological therapy,” it said.

    A Vatican source said he still had pneumonia but confirmed “there is no imminent danger” to his life.

    The Vatican bulletin also raised for the first time the prospect of an end to Francis’s hospitalisation, talking of “days” of treatment ahead.

    “Given the complexity of the pope’s clinical picture and the severe infection present at the time of hospitalisation, it will still be necessary to continue pharmacological treatment in a hospital setting for several more days,” it said.

    On March 11, the Vatican press office gave a briefing saying the pope remained stable, with “slight improvements within a framework for doctors that remains complex”.

    It refused to speculate on when Francis might go home.

    Regular updates

    The pope has been staying in a special suite on the 10th floor of the hospital, alternating prayers with physiotherapy, as well as doing some work and receiving colleagues, the Vatican says.

    He has in recent days also joined via video link — without being seen — spiritual exercises (prayers and meditations) held at the Vatican.

    In a notable shift towards transparency compared to previous papacies, the Vatican has been providing daily updates, at the request of Francis himself.

    The morning statement, issued shortly after 0700 GMT, is normally one line describing his night’s sleep, followed by a more detailed medical bulletin at around 1800 GMT.

    Since March 7, due to the stability of his condition, the Vatican has only issued the evening bulletin every other day. The next is due on Wednesday evening.

    The Vatican press office also provides regular updates.

    However, Francis has not been seen in public since being hospitalised, notably missing four successive Sunday Angelus prayers, and no photos have been released.

    In the audio message, in which Francis thanked well-wishers for their prayers, the pope sounded very frail.

    Longest hospital stay

    This is the longest and most fraught hospital stay since Francis became pope on March 13, 2013.

    But he has had health issues for years, even while maintaining a packed schedule, including frequent overseas visits.

    Francis was treated at the Gemelli between July 4 and July 14, 2021, for surgery for diverticulitis, an inflammation of pockets that develop in the lining of the intestine.

    In March 2023, he was an inpatient for three days for bronchitis and between June 7 and June 16 that year was admitted for a hernia operation.

    As a young man, he had part of his right lung removed, making him more susceptible to respiratory infections.

    Knee and hip pain have forced him to use a wheelchair since 2022. He underwent cataract surgery in 2019 and recently began wearing a hearing aid.

    (AFP)
  • Pope Francis Rested During A Peaceful Night Following Respiratory Crisis and Blood Transfusion

    Pope Francis Rested During A Peaceful Night Following Respiratory Crisis and Blood Transfusion

    Pope Francis rested during a peaceful night following a respiratory crisis and blood transfusions, the Vatican said Sunday.

    Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni’s one-line statement didn’t mention if Francis was up or eating breakfast.

    The brief update came after doctors said the 88-year-old pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, was in critical condition. On Saturday morning, he suffered a prolonged asthmatic respiratory crisis while being treated for pneumonia and a complex lung infection.

    The pope received “high flows” of oxygen to help him breathe. He also received blood transfusions after tests showed low counts of platelets, which are needed for clotting, the Vatican said in a late update.

    The Saturday statement also said that the pontiff “continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday.” Doctors said the prognosis was “reserved.”

    Doctors have said Francis’ condition is touch-and-go, given his age, fragility and pre-existing lung disease, and that the main threat facing him is if the infection enters the bloodstream, a serious condition known as sepsis.

    (AP)

  • Vatican Says Pope Francis Is In Critical Condition

    Vatican Says Pope Francis Is In Critical Condition

    Pope Francis was in critical condition Saturday after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen, the Vatican said.

    The 88-year-old Francis, who has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection, also received blood transfusions after tests showed a condition associated with anemia, the Vatican said in a late update.

    “The Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved,” the statement said.

    Earlier, doctors said that Francis was battling a pneumonia and a complex respiratory infection that doctors say remains touch-and-go and will keep him hospitalized for at least another week.

    The Vatican carried on with its Holy Year celebrations without the pope on Saturday.

    In a brief earlier update on Saturday, Francis slept well overnight.

    But doctors have warned that the main threat facing Francis would be the onset of sepsis, a serious infection of the blood that can occur as a complication of pneumonia. As of Friday, there was no evidence of any sepsis, and Francis was responding to the various drugs he is taking, the pope’s medical team said in their first in-depth update on the pope’s condition.

    “He is not out of danger,” said his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone. “So like all fragile patients I say they are always on the golden scale: In other words, it takes very little to become unbalanced.”

    Francis, who has chronic lung disease, was admitted to Gemelli hospital on Feb. 14 after a weeklong bout of bronchitis worsened. 

    Doctors first diagnosed the complex viral, bacterial and fungal respiratory tract infectionand then the onset of pneumonia in both lungs. They prescribed “absolute rest” and a combination of cortisone and antibiotics, along with supplemental oxygen when he needs it.

    Carbone, who along with Francis’ personal nurse Massimiliano Strappetti organized care for him at the Vatican, acknowledged he had insisted on staying at the Vatican to work, even after he was sick, “because of institutional and private commitments.” He was cared for by a cardiologist and infectious specialist in addition to his personal medical team before being hospitalized.

    Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the head of medicine and surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital, said the biggest threat facing Francis was that some of the germs that are currently located in his respiratory system pass into the bloodstream, causing sepsis. Sepsis can lead to organ failure and death.

    “Sepsis, with his respiratory problems and his age, would be really difficult to get out of,” Alfieri told a news conference Friday at Gemelli. “The English say ‘knock on wood,’ we say ‘touch iron.’ Everyone touch what they want,” he said as he tapped the microphone. “But this is the real risk in these cases: that these germs pass to the bloodstream.”

    “He knows he’s in danger,” Alfieri added. “And he told us to relay that.”

    Deacons, meanwhile, were gathering at the Vatican for their special Jubilee weekend. Francis got sick at the start of the Vatican’s Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Catholicism. This weekend, Francis was supposed to have celebrated deacons, a ministry in the church that precedes ordination to the priesthood.

    In his place, the Holy Year organizer will celebrate Sunday’s Mass, the Vatican said. And for the second weekend in a row, Francis was expected to skip his traditional Sunday noon blessing, which he could have delivered from Gemelli if he were up to it. 

    “Look, even though he’s not (physically) here, we know he’s here,” said Luis Arnaldo Lopez Quirindongo, a deacon from Ponce, Puerto Rico who was at the Vatican on Saturday for the Jubilee celebration. “He’s recovering, but he’s in our hearts and is accompanying us because our prayers and his go together.” 

    Beyond that, doctors have said Francis’ recovery will take time and that regardless he will still have to live with his chronic respiratory problems back at the Vatican.

    “He has to get over this infection and we all hope he gets over it,” said Alfieri. “But the fact is, all doors are open.”

    (AP)

  • Pope Francis Has Bronchitis But Will Keep His Schedule, Vatican Says

    Pope Francis Has Bronchitis But Will Keep His Schedule, Vatican Says

    Pope Francis is suffering from bronchitis but plans to maintain his scheduled appointments in the coming days, the Vatican said on Thursday.

    The pope, who told pilgrims at his general audience on Wednesday that he was suffering from a “strong cold”, will hold meetings at the Vatican residence where he lives, said a statement.

    Francis, 88, has been pope since 2013 and has suffered from influenza and related health problems several times over the past two years.

    The pope has also suffered two falls recently in his Vatican residence, bruising his chin in December and injuring his arm in January.

    Francis does not have any major meetings on his public schedule for the rest of the week. On Saturday he is scheduled to hold an audience with members of military services around the world, who are coming to Rome for a celebration as part of the 2025 Catholic Holy Year.

    (Reuters)

  • Pope Confident Of His Critics Eventually Accepting His Decision To Bless LGBTQ Unions Except ‘Special Case’ Africa

    Pope Confident Of His Critics Eventually Accepting His Decision To Bless LGBTQ Unions Except ‘Special Case’ Africa

    Pope Francis said in an interview published on Monday that Africans were a “special case” in the opposition of homosexuality by bishops and many other people on the continent.

    Speaking in the interview Francis said he was confident that, except for Africans, critics of his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples would eventually understand it.

    Blessings were allowed last month in a document titled Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which has caused widespread debate in the Catholic Church.

    Strong resistance came from African bishops.

    “Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups,” Francis told Italian newspaper La Stampa, adding, “a special case are Africans: for them homosexuality is something ‘bad’ from a cultural point of view, they don’t tolerate it.”

    “But in general, I trust that gradually everyone will be reassured by the spirit of the ‘Fiducia Supplicans’ declaration by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith: it aims to include, not divide,” he said.

    Last week, Francis appeared to acknowledge the pushback the document received, especially in Africa where bishops have effectively rejected it and in some countries where same-sex relations can lead to prison or even the death penalty.

    Francis said that when the blessings are given, priests should “naturally take into account the context, the sensitivities, the places where one lives and the most appropriate ways to do it.”

    In the interview with La Stampa, the pope said he was not concerned about the risk of conservatives breaking away from the Catholic Church due to his reforms, saying that talk of a schism is always led by “small groups.”

    “We must leave them to it and move on…and look forward,” he said.

    Turning to Israel and the Palestinians, he said “true peace” between them will not materialize until a two-state solution is implemented and lamented that their conflict was widening.

    Francis confirmed he is scheduled to meet the president of his native Argentina, Javier Milei, on February 11, and that finally visiting the country – where he has not returned since becoming pope in 2013 – is a possibility.

    He said his agenda for 2024 currently includes trips to Belgium, East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

    Speaking about his health, which has taken some knocks in recent years with hospitalizations, mobility problems and cancelled trips or events, the 87-year-old said, “there are some aches and pains but it’s better now, I’m fine.”

  • Pope Francis Appoints Archbishop Philip Anyolo As Archbishop of Nairobi

    Pope Francis Appoints Archbishop Philip Anyolo As Archbishop of Nairobi

    The Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu, Most Rev. Philip A. Anyolo, as Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.

    The news of Archbishop Anyolo’s appointment was officially published in L’Osservatore Romano in Rome on 28th October 2021 at 12-noon Rome time and 1.00p.m. Kenyan time. The Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, His Excellency Archbishop Bert Van Megen, also sent an official communication to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) communicating the same.

    Archbishop-elect of Nairobi, Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, who is the former Chairman of KCCB (from October 2013 to May 2021), will be taking over from Archbishop Emeritus John Cardinal Njue who retired on 4th January 2021 having attained the official retirement age for bishops. Nairobi Auxiliary Bishop David Kamau has been the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Nairobi from the time His Eminence John Cardinal Njue retired.

    Archbishop Anyolo was born on 18th May 1956 in Tongaren, Bungoma. He was ordained a priest for the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret in 1983. Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Kericho on 6th December 1995 and was consecrated as Bishop of Kericho on 3rd February 1996. On 20th February 2002, The Holy Father John Paul II appointed him as Apostolic Administrator of Homabay upon the resignation of Rt. Rev. Linus Okok Okwach.

    He was appointed Bishop of Homabay on 22nd March 2003 and installed as Bishop of Homabay on 23rd May 2003. On 15th November 2018, Archbishop Philip Anyolo was appointed the Archbishop of Kisumu and installed on 16th January 2019.

  • Pope Francis Hospitalized

    Pope Francis Hospitalized

    VATICAN CITY, July 4 (Reuters) – Pope Francis was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Sunday for scheduled intestinal surgery, the Vatican said, the first time he has been in hospital since his election in 2013.

    Spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope, 84, was due to undergo the surgery later on Sunday for an intestinal condition that tends to affect older people and can cause abdominal pain.

    The pope appeared to be in fine health several hours earlier when he addressed thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square for his Sunday blessing and announced a trip to Slovakia and Budapest for September read more .

    The sprawling Catholic-run Gemelli hospital and medical school in the northern part of Rome traditionally treats popes and a part of its 10th floor is permanently reserved for them.

    Francis is suffering from symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon, a condition where sac-like pouches protrude from the muscular layer of the colon, leading it to become narrow.

    In addition to causing pain, the condition can lead to bloating, inflammation, and difficulty in bowel movement.

    Francis is sometimes short of breath because a part of one of his lungs was removed following an illness when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

    He also suffers from sciatica, which causes pain that radiates from the lower back along the sciatic nerve to the legs.

    The condition, for which he receives regular physiotherapy, forced him to miss several events at the beginning of this year and has led him on occasions to walk with difficulty.

    Last year, a bad cold kept him from taking part in a week-long Lenten retreat with senior aides south of Rome.

    In 2014, a year after he was elected pope, Francis was forced to cancel several engagements because of what was believed to be a stomach ailment.