The final days of Pope Francis: A solemn timeline
(FILES) Pope Francis gestures to the crowd from the window of the Apostolic Palace overlooking St Peter's Square during the Epiphany Angelus prayer, in the Vatican, on 6 January 2025. Pope Francis will make his first public appearance on 22 March, 2025 with a blessing and a wave from a window at Rome's Gemelli hospital where he was admitted on 14 February.
Andreas Solaro / AFP
For Pope Francis — the son of Italian immigrants from Buenos Aires, a priest of the poor, and a spiritual shepherd to over 1.4 billion Catholics — 2025 began with silence. Frailty had begun to steal the strength that once carried him across continents. Yet, as ever, he met suffering with dignity, drawing the world into one final chapter of compassion, resilience, and unwavering faith.
The timeline that follows solemnly traces the quiet, poignant moments of his last days.
14 February 2025 - Rushed to hospital
After presiding over his morning audiences, Pope Francis was rushed to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with a respiratory tract infection and slight fever. Doctors soon diagnosed bronchitis, but beneath that simple term lay a far more complex threat. His condition would worsen in the days to come.
17 February - Deeper struggle revealed
The Vatican confirmed a polymicrobial infection — bacterial, viral, and fungal — had taken hold of the pope’s respiratory passages. This marked the beginning of the most serious health crisis of his pontificate.
18 February - Double pneumonia
An X-ray revealed bilateral pneumonia, and doctors began administering antibiotics and cortisone. Though alert, Pope Francis was clearly deteriorating, raising concerns among medical staff and faithful alike.
22 February - Crisis point
Pope Francis suffered a severe respiratory episode, requiring high-pressure oxygen therapy. Doctors also administered two blood transfusions after signs of anemia and a low platelet count. The Vatican remained tight-lipped, but insiders whispered fears of sepsis — a dire threat for any patient, especially one with a history of lung surgery and at such an advanced age.
23 February - Kidney concerns
Doctors noted the onset of kidney insufficiency. While there was no repeat of the respiratory crisis, the pontiff remained in critical condition.
26 February - Flicker of hope
A glimmer of improvement arrived: his mild renal failure had begun to regress. It was the first good news in over a week, but caution still reigned.
28 February - Setback
During an isolated coughing fit, Francis inhaled vomit and required noninvasive aspiration. He was placed on a ventilator mask to stabilize his breathing. The prognosis remained guarded, but his medical team remained hopeful.
3 March - Bronchospasm and mucus blockage
Two acute bronchospasms prompted emergency bronchoscopies. Despite the intensity of the procedures, the pope stayed alert and collaborative — a testament to his mental clarity amid physical weakness.
6 March - Whisper of gratitude
From his hospital bed, Francis recorded a breathless message to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square. “Thank you,” he whispered. “Pray for me.” It was both a plea and a blessing.
10–13 March - Encouraging signs
Doctors declared Francis out of immediate danger from pneumonia. A chest X-ray on 12 March confirmed improvement. On 13 March, from his hospital bed, he quietly celebrated the 12th anniversary of his papacy — a papacy forged in humility and marked by unwavering advocacy for the poor.
14 March - One month in a hospital
The Vatican began reducing updates on his condition, signaling his gradual recovery. The silence was both relief and forewarning — a retreat from public life that felt final.
