Pope Francis celebrates anniversary of his election in hospital

Vatican City - Francis is spending the twelfth anniversary of his election as Pope in hospital. After weeks of fears for the 88-year-old's life, his condition appears to have stabilised.

Published on 13.03.2025 at 09:04 –

Pope Francis began the anniversary of his election with a quiet night in the Gemelli Clinic in Rome. This was exactly twelve years ago and took place on 13 March 2013 in the conclave in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. According to the Vatican press release, the night of Thursday passed "calmly" for the Pope.

There are no special events on the programme for election day itself, which is a public holiday in the Vatican. It falls within the six-day Lenten retreat of the Roman Curia, which continues until Friday. During these days, all Vatican employees are invited to meditate on eternal life on the basis of speeches by the papal preacher Roberto Pasolini.

Meanwhile, the Pope's recovery continues to progress very slowly. On Wednesday evening, the doctors treating him at the Gemelli Clinic announced that the Pope's clinical condition remained stable as part of a "complex overall picture". An X-ray of his chest taken on Tuesday confirmed the improvement that had already been observed in the previous days. Francis continues to receive large quantities of oxygen during the day and is being artificially ventilated at night with a breathing mask. (KNA)