Pope Francis Will Miss Holy Year Events Due to a “Complex” Respiratory Infection Hospitalization

Pope Francis has a “complex” respiratory infection and is still in the hospital, missing activities during the Holy Year while his physicians modify his medication.

Pope Francis will not be attending Holy Year activities this weekend because he is still in the hospital due to a “complex” respiratory ailment, the Vatican said Tuesday. On February 14, the 88-year-old pope was hospitalized to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital after battling the sickness for more than a week.

According to the Vatican, the pope has canceled all of his scheduled public engagements through Sunday. But Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni told the world that Francis had eaten breakfast Tuesday and slept soundly the previous night. Later today, there will likely be another update on his status.

The pope is breathing on his own and is not on a ventilator, a Vatican official who asked to remain unnamed explained.

A number of events for the 2025 Catholic Holy Year, which runs through January of following year, were planned to be headed by Pope Francis. For Catholics, the Holy Year is a pivotal time, characterized by themes of forgiveness and pardon. All year long, the Vatican expects 32 million pilgrims to visit Rome, many of whom are eager to meet the pope in private.

On Monday, the Vatican disclosed that, for the second time during the pope’s hospital stay, medical professionals had changed his medication regimen, characterizing his illness as a “polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract.” There are several microorganisms involved in this kind of infection, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi.

Francis, the pope since 2013, has experienced recurrent health problems recently. He had pleurisy in his early adulthood, which resulted in the partial removal of one lung. He has a history of lung infections, which makes him especially susceptible to respiratory conditions.

Although medical experts point out that bacterial infections may be treated with medication, whereas viral infections usually require supportive care to help control symptoms, the Vatican has not revealed whether the infection is bacterial or viral.

According to Vatican officials, Pope Francis will stay in the hospital for as long as it takes. Since his discharge date has not been finalized, it is unclear if he will be able to return to his regular routine in the upcoming weeks.

As the Holy Year progresses, millions of Catholics throughout the world keep praying for the pope’s quick recovery so he can return to his pastoral responsibilities.