What are Pope Francis’ messages from the hospital telling the world about faith and perseverance?
88 years old, lying in a hospital bed, and still finding the strength to lead millions of people with his words. That’s exactly what Pope Francis is doing right now.
Since February 14, 2025, he’s been at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, battling pneumonia that started as bronchitis. His health has had ups and downs, but his spirit remains strong.
Even as doctors and nurses care for him, he’s thinking about the world outside—about faith, truth, and the people who support him.
How has he changed his mind about stepping down as pope over the years? And what’s he saying from the hospital that’s surprising everyone? Let’s take a closer look.
A Changing View on Resigning
What do Pope Francis’ messages from the hospital reveal about his thoughts on stepping down?
Pope Francis wasn’t always sure about what it means for a pope to retire. Back in 2013, when Pope Benedict XVI shocked the world by stepping down—the first pope to do so in 600 years—Francis was stunned.
In his 2024 memoir, Life: My Story Through History, he wrote about getting a phone call in Buenos Aires with the news. He couldn’t believe it at first. But soon, he saw Benedict’s choice as brave.
Benedict, he said, knew his strength was fading and trusted that God’s Spirit would guide the Church. Francis called him a “great pope” for that.
Over the years, Francis started thinking about his own future. In 2022, he told Spain’s ABC newspaper that he’d written a resignation letter just in case a health problem stopped him from doing his job.
He didn’t share the details, but he wanted to be ready. At the time, though, he felt healthy and had no plans to quit. In his memoir, he said resigning was a “distant possibility” and that he had plenty of projects to finish.
Then, Benedict died in December 2022. That’s when Francis’ thoughts shifted again. In an interview with The Associated Press, he said he’d live outside the Vatican if he ever retired, calling himself the “emeritus bishop of Rome.”
But just weeks later, speaking to priests from Congo and South Sudan, he took a firmer stance. He didn’t want resigning to become a normal thing for popes. “I believe that the pope’s ministry is for life,” he said.
Unless a serious health issue left him unable to lead, he planned to stay. For now, stepping down isn’t on his mind.
Pope Francis’ Messages From the Hospital
Fast forward to March 2025. Pope Francis has been in the hospital for weeks, dealing with breathing problems and needing oxygen support. Even so, he’s not silent.
On March 9, he sent a message for a special Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, read by Cardinal Michael Czerny. It was for volunteers, and Francis thanked them for their work. He also said something striking:
“The tempter is the father of lies.”
He meant that evil twists God’s truth to trick people, especially in tough times. It’s a bold reminder to stay strong in faith.
“The Lord is with us and takes care of us, especially in the place of trial and suspicion. That is, when the voice of the tempter rises, who is the father of lies, corrupted and corruptor, because he knows the word of God, but doesn’t understand it. Moreover, he distorts it,”
He didn’t stop there. From his hospital bed, Francis also thanked the doctors, nurses, and everyone praying for him. He called their care a “miracle of tenderness.”
“We need this, the ‘miracle of tenderness’.”
Despite his fragile health—pneumonia, some kidney trouble, and a slow recovery—he’s holding on to hope. The latest update on March 10 says he had a peaceful night and is resting well.
His doctors see small signs of improvement, and that’s good news for the faithful who look to him.
Pope Francis can’t lead prayers like the Angelus in person right now, but his words still reach people. He’s showing that even when he’s weak, he’s thinking of others.
As he recovers, the question of resignation lingers—but for now, he’s focused on faith, not farewell.
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