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Pope Francis appears in good form and reads homily after the flu sent him to the hospital for tests

Pope Francis visits the parish church of St. Pius V for the “24 hours for the Lord” Lenten initiative of prayer and reconciliation, in Rome, Friday, March 8, 2024. The event will be celebrated in dioceses around the world on the eve of the fourth Sunday of Lent, from Friday 8 to Saturday 9 March.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis confesses a man as he visits the parish church of St. Pius V for the “24 hours for the Lord” Lenten initiative of prayer and reconciliation, in Rome, Friday, March 8, 2024. The event will be celebrated in dioceses around the world on the eve of the fourth Sunday of Lent, from Friday 8 to Saturday 9 March.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Pope Francis confesses a woman as he visits the parish church of St. Pius V for the “24 hours for the Lord” Lenten initiative of prayer and reconciliation, in Rome, Friday, March 8, 2024. The event will be celebrated in dioceses around the world on the eve of the fourth Sunday of Lent, from Friday 8 to Saturday 9 March.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

A woman hugs Pope Francis after confessing as he visits the parish church of St. Pius V for the “24 hours for the Lord” Lenten initiative of prayer and reconciliation, in Rome, Friday, March 8, 2024. The event will be celebrated in dioceses around the world on the eve of the fourth Sunday of Lent, from Friday 8 to Saturday 9 March.(AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

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ROME (AP) — Pope Francis appeared in good form on Friday in his first parish visit outside the Vatican this year, delivering his homily and hearing confessions after a lingering bout of the flu had sent him to the hospital for tests and forced him to cancel some appointments last week.

In a strong voice with only occasional coughing, Francis read his homily aloud after a week in which he had regularly asked an aide to deliver his remarks to spare him the strain. He is still having mobility problems and uses a wheelchair rather than walk with a cane, even for a short distance.

Francis presided over a Mass and heard confessions at the St. Pius V church not far from the Vatican — his first parish outing this year. He had canceled some audiences over the past week because of what the Vatican said was a slight case of the flu.

He went to the hospital Feb. 28 for unspecified diagnostic tests , the results of which have not been released. He has been suffering on and off this winter from what he and the Vatican have said was a cold, bouts of bronchitis and the flu.

The Argentine pope had part of one lung removed as a young man because of a respiratory infection, and he often speaks in a whisper even when not sick. In 2021, he had a chunk of his colon removed and last year had surgery to repair an abdominal hernia and remove intestinal scar tissue.

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Pope Francis visits the hospital: his health issues through the years

By Jonah McKeown

CNA Staff, Feb 28, 2024 / 16:49 pm

Pope Francis was hospitalized Wednesday morning after a public audience, with the Vatican confirming that he underwent unspecified “diagnostic tests.” 

The 87-year-old pope was taken to the Gemelli Isola Tiberina Hospital before returning to his Vatican residence shortly after noon. The Vatican said the pope has had “a mild flu-like condition” since at least Saturday, when he canceled his scheduled public appearances.

Pope Francis has faced numerous health challenges in recent years and yet still has maintained a busy schedule of meetings, Masses, and travel since 2020. 

Diverticulitis and other abdominal issues

A problem with his colon lands the pope in the hospital on July 4, 2021.

Pope Francis undergoes surgery to relieve stricture of the colon caused by diverticulitis. The three-hour surgery includes a left hemicolectomy, the removal of one side of the colon.

The pope spends 11 days in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital recovering from the surgery.

January 2023

In an interview published by the Associated Press on Jan. 25, Pope Francis announces that his diverticulitis has returned. He emphasizes that he is in “good health” and that, for his age, he is “normal.”

Pope Francis undergoes a three-hour abdominal surgery to repair an incisional hernia on June 7.

A team of surgeons removes scar tissue and operates on a hernia in the pope’s abdominal wall at the site of a previous surgical incision in Rome’s Gemelli Hospital. 

The pope is discharged on June 16 after an eight-day stay in the hospital recovering from the operation.

Bronchitis and other lung issues

On March 29 the Vatican announces that Pope Francis is expected to remain in a hospital in Rome for “some days” due to a respiratory infection. It had announced earlier in the day that he was in the hospital for previously scheduled medical checkups.

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PHOTOS: Pope Francis washes the feet of inmates at women’s prison in Rome

November 2023 .

Pope Francis goes to the hospital on Nov. 25 for precautionary testing amid a “mild flu.” A CT scan at the hospital rules out pneumonia but shows that the pope has lung inflammation causing breathing difficulties. The pope is treated with antibiotics intravenously as he recovers, and he manages to keep his scheduled appointment with the president of Paraguay the following day. 

Despite being strongly committed to attending, Pope Francis ultimately on Nov. 30 cancels his trip to Dubai for a climate conference amid “very acute infectious bronchitis.” Despite feeling under the weather, the pope maintains a very full schedule that day with nine official meetings scheduled for the morning. Amid the pope’s recovery, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin instead heads the Vatican’s delegation to the COP28 climate conference. 

Colds, flus, and miscellaneous

August 2022.

On Aug. 4, the Vatican announces that Massimiliano Strappetti, a Vatican nurse, has been appointed as Pope Francis’ “personal health care assistant.”

February 2023

(Story continues below)

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On Feb. 23 the Vatican announces that Pope Francis has a “strong cold.” The pope distributes copies of his speeches at two morning appointments rather than reading them aloud as usual.

February 2024

Pope Francis cancels his public appearances amid a “mild flu,” which the Vatican later describes as a cold. 

Knee issues

January 2022.

Pope Francis shares that he is having problems with his knee necessitating that he remain seated. Francis tells the crowd at his general audience that the reason he is unable to greet pilgrims as usual is because of a temporary “problem with my right leg,” an inflamed knee ligament.

February 2022

Pope Francis cancels two public events at the end of February due to knee pain and doctors’ orders to rest. In the month that follows, he receives help going up and down stairs but continues to walk and stand without assistance.

During a trip to Malta, Pope Francis uses a lift to disembark the papal plane and a special lift is also installed at Malta’s Basilica of St. Paul in Rabat so that Francis can visit and pray in the crypt grotto without taking the stairs.

On the return flight on April 3, Francis tells journalists: “My health is a bit fickle, I have this knee problem that brings out problems with walking.” 

At the Vatican’s Good Friday service, the pope does not lie prostrate before the altar as he has done in the past.

He also does not celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass on April 16 or participate in the paschal candle procession but sits in the front of the congregation in a white chair.

On April 22 and April 26, Francis’ agenda is cleared for medical checkups and rest for his knee. The following day, the pope tells pilgrims at his general audience that his knee prevents him from standing for very long.

Pope Francis also begins to remain seated in the popemobile while greeting pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.

On April 30, he says that his doctor has ordered him not to walk.

The pope says at the beginning of May that he would undergo a medical procedure on his knee, “an intervention with infiltrations,” by which he may have meant a therapeutic injection, sometimes used to relieve knee pain caused by ligament tears.

Two days later, he uses a wheelchair in public for the first time since his July 2021 colon surgery. Throughout May he continues to use the wheelchair and avoids most standing and walking.

Francis also undergoes over two hours of rehabilitation for his knee every day, according to an Argentine archbishop close to the pontiff.

In early June, the Vatican postpones Pope Francis’ planned visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan for health reasons. The trip was planned for July 2–7 but is put off “at the request of his doctors and in order not to jeopardize the results of the therapy that he is undergoing for his knee,” according to the Vatican.

Less than a week later, the Vatican announces that Pope Francis will not preside over the June 16 Corpus Christi Mass because of his knee problems and “the specific liturgical needs of the celebration.”

November 2022

José María Villalón, the head doctor of the Atlético de Madrid soccer team, is recruited to assist Pope Francis with his knee problems. He says the pope is “a very nice and very stubborn patient in the sense that there are surgical procedures that he does not want” and that “we have to offer him more conservative treatments so that he will agree to them.”

Sciatic nerve pain

December 2020.

A bout of sciatic pain in the final days of 2020 keeps Pope Francis from presiding at the Vatican’s liturgies on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Francis has suffered from sciatica for a number of years; he spoke about it during an in-flight press conference returning from a trip to Brazil in July 2013.

“Sciatica is very painful, very painful! I don’t wish it on anyone,” he said about the condition, which starts in the lower back and can cause pain running down the back of the thigh and leg to the foot.

January 2021

Pope Francis cancels three more public appearances at the end of January due to sciatic nerve pain.

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Pope Francis, weakened by ‘a bit of a cold,’ has aide read reflection before hospital visit

The pope did not walk to his chair in the Paul VI Audience Hall on Wednesday as he normally does.

Pope Francis visits hospital for diagnostic tests after Wednesday audience

“Dear brothers and sisters, I still have a bit of a cold,” Pope Francis said in a soft-spoken voice on Feb. 28.

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Pope calls for church to place greater value on women

Updated on: September 26, 2015 / 10:58 PM EDT / CBS/AP

PHILADELPHIA -- Pope Francis arrived in the City of Brotherly Love on Saturday for the final leg of his U.S. visit - a festive weekend devoted to celebrating Catholic families - and immediately called for the church to place greater value on women.

The pontiff's plane touched down at the Philadelphia airport after takeoff from New York, bringing him to a city of blocked-off streets, sidewalks lined with portable potties, and checkpoints manned by police, National Guardsmen and border agents.

After speeches to Congress and the United Nations earlier this week aimed at spurring world leaders toward bold action on immigration and the environment, he is expected to focus more heavily on ordinary Catholics during his two days in Philadelphia.

On Friday night in New York, about 20,000 of the faithful packed into Madison Square Garden to witness the pope's message about faith in the city, CBS News correspondent Chip Reid reports.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light," the pope said during his homily, "and we ourselves are witnesses of that light."

From the Philadelphia airport Saturday, Francis rode by motorcade to the downtown Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul to celebrate a Mass for about 1,600 people. In his homily, he said the future of the Catholic Church in the U.S. requires a much more active role for lay Catholics.

"It means valuing the immense contribution in which women, lay and religious, have made and continue to make to the life of our communities," he said.

Francis has repeatedly said women should have a greater role in church leadership, although he has rejected the idea of ordaining women.

Under Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, many U.S. bishops worked to shore up their authority, upsetting parishioners who had high expectations for more of a say in Catholic life. By touching on the issue, Francis seemed intent on healing one of the major rifts in American Catholicism that has alienated many from the church.

Among those greeting Francis at the airport was Richard Bowes, a former Philadelphia police officer wounded in the line of duty seven years ago. Francis also got out of his black Fiat to bless a boy in a wheelchair with cerebral palsy on the tarmac, kissing him on the forehead.

A Catholic high school band played the theme song from the Philadelphia-set movie "Rocky."

Ahead of Francis' visit, Catholic website Aleteia posted a Vine video linking the pope to "Rocky."

Also on the itinerary for Saturday: a late-afternoon speech on religious freedom and immigration at Independence Hall, where the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The 78-year-old Argentine was scheduled to speak from the lectern Abraham Lincoln used to deliver the Gettysburg Address.

Francis will be the star attraction at the World Meeting of Families, a conference for more than 18,000 people from around the world. The weekend's activities will culminate in an outdoor Mass Sunday evening for 1 million people on the broad Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

It will be the last major event of his U.S. visit before he leaves that night for Rome.

On the first two legs of his six-day U.S. journey, in Washington and New York, Francis was greeted by throngs of cheering, weeping well-wishers hoping for a glance or a touch from the wildly popular spiritual leader, despite unprecedented security.

The Philadelphia visit, months in the making, all but paralyzed Center City, with stretches of Broad and Market Streets and other routes closed to all but pedestrians and lined with metal crowd-control barricades, massive concrete blocks and tall fences.

"He has a magnetic personality that not only appeals to Catholics, but to the universal masses. He's not scripted. He's relatable. His heart, in itself, you can see that reflected through his message," said Filipina Opena, 46, a Catholic from LaMirada, California, as tour groups and families walked among Philadelphia's historic sites ahead of the pope's visit. "People feel he's sincere and he's genuine."

As he has done in New York and Washington, the pontiff will give his attention to both the elite and the disadvantaged, this time visiting inmates in Philadelphia's largest jail.

"It's probably not politicians who will remember his message but the kids," said Liza Stephens, 48, of Sacramento, California, who was in Philadelphia with her two daughters, ages 10 and 12. The three spent time volunteering to bag food for Africa, among other activities at the family conference.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia organized the conference, hoping for a badly needed infusion of papal joy and enthusiasm amid shrinking membership, financial troubles and one of the worst clergy sex-abuse scandals to hit a U.S. diocese.

The archdiocese has been the target of three grand jury investigations. The last grand jury accused the diocese in 2011, before Archbishop Charles Chaput came to Philadelphia, of keeping on assignment more than three dozen priests facing serious abuse accusations.

A monsignor who oversaw priest assignments was found guilty of child endangerment, becoming the first American church official convicted of a crime for failing to stop abusers.

The pope is widely expected to talk privately with abuse victims this weekend.

The visit is also shaping up as one of the most interesting ecclesial pairings of the pope's trip. His host is Chaput, an outspoken opponent of abortion and gay marriage who takes a hard line on church teaching in the archdiocese.

Chaput has said a local Catholic school run by nuns showed "character and common sense" by firing a teacher in June who married another woman. He recently wrote in the archdiocese newspaper that abortion is "a uniquely wicked act" that cannot be seen as one sin among many.

Three days ago, in an address to U.S. bishops laying out his vision for American Catholicism, Francis said attention should be paid to the "innocent victim of abortion" but listed the issue as one among many "essential" to the church's mission, including caring for the elderly and the environment.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Catholics plan to hold separate events in a push for more acceptance in the church. Francis has famously said, "Who am I to judge?" when asked about a supposedly gay priest, but has also affirmed church teaching on marriage.

Mary McGuiness, a religion professor at La Salle University, a Catholic school in Philadelphia, said she doesn't anticipate a flood of local Catholics returning to Sunday Mass because of the pope's visit. She said the archdiocese has been through too much with abuse scandals and parish closings.

She said the intense attention to his speeches here could inspire people to "begin to think more about what Catholicism really means."

"I hope that will happen," she said. "But I hear a lot of people say, 'I like this pope, but I'm not going back.'"

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Pope francis made his first visit to the united states in september 2015, meeting followers and dignitaries in washington, new york and philadelphia. explore the full coverage from the times..

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Pope Francis Visits NYC: Where He Will Be, and Where You Should Go Instead

Pope Francis will arrive in New York City on Thursday evening, marking the beginning of one of the biggest logistical SNAFU's the city has faced in decades. Never mind the United Nations General Assembly, which is convening this week on the East Side of Manhattan; it's the Pontiff's first United States visit that will reroute thousands of New Yorkers, as entire blocks are closed to traffic and some of the city's most visited landmarks are shut off to the general public. So where, exactly, should you avoid if you're looking to skirt the mass of humanity His Holiness will draw to New York City? Good question. We've mapped the street closures that will be in effect throughout the two-day Papal extravaganza , as well as attractions to visit in lieu of the destinations the Holy Father will himself be gracing.

His New York schedule (copied from here ) is below, along with maps of each of the main locations. Click on the maps and streets for more details.

Thursday, September 24

5:00 p.m.: Arrive at JFK Airport. Fun fact: journalists subsidize the Pope's travels , and he's flying American Airlines within the States (yes, he's flying between D.C., NYC, and Philly).

6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer (Vespers) at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Friday, September 25

8:30 a.m.: Visit to the United Nations and Address to the United Nations General Assembly

11:30 a.m.: Multi-religious service at 9/11 Memorial and Museum, World Trade Center

4:00 p.m.: Visit to Our Lady Queen of Angels School, East Harlem

5 p.m.(ish): Pope Francis Central Park Procession. Ticketed guests will be allowed to enter starting at 11 a.m. All guests must be at their assigned gate no later than 3:30 p.m.

6:00 p.m. Mass at Madison Square Garden

Saturday, September 26

8:40 a.m. Departure JFK Airport

· The Papal Visit Is Causing a Security Nightmare on the UES [Curbed] · Curbed Maps archives [Curbed]

Brooklyn Museum

Many of Manhattan's most famous museums, including MoMA and the Met, will be all but impossible to get to while Pope Francis is in town. But the Brooklyn Museum won't be, and its current roster of exhibits—including one on sneaker culture, a Kara Walker installation, and a retrospective of the innovative Brooklyn artists FAILE—is well worth the trip.

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Flushing Meadows-Corona Park

Thanks to the Papal procession on Friday (and the security leading up to it), Central Park will be a no-go this week. Instead, head to Queens and visit Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, which is even larger than Central Park, and has just as many cool things to do: check out the iconic Unisphere, wander around the dilapidated New York State Pavilion, or check out institutions like the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Botanical Garden.

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Queens Museum

While you're at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, be sure to take a detour to the Queens Museum. It's located in the former New York City Building, originally constructed for the 1939 World's Fair. At one point, the building was the headquarters of the United Nations (whose current complex will be a no-fly-zone because of the Pope); now, it hosts innovative, borough-focused exhibits. It's also home to The Panorama of the City of New York , a scale model of the five boroughs that's one of the most fascinating exhibits in the city. [Photo by Max Touhey]

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Prospect Park

Or you could visit Prospect Park, which has the added bonus of being another New York City park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the architects of Central Park. Head to the Vale of Cashmere, one of the quietest spots within the park , if you need a place for peaceful reflection. [Photo by Monica Berger]

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The Green-Wood Cemetery

It's no surprise that the recently-restored St. Patrick's Cathedral will be overtaken by Papal activity—and other popular houses of worship, like Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel, are also in Pope Francis's sphere of closures. If you're looking for a peaceful spot with religious (and historical) significance, go to Green-Wood: There are plenty of spots to explore, including the beautiful 1911 chapel; the grounds are serene; and there are more historical sites than you can count on both hands.

Governors Island

This is the final weekend that Governors Island will be open to the public, so make the most of it. On Thursday, there's a hard hat tour of the new hills being built, which will tower 70 feet over the island. Pro tip: Leave from the ferry landing at Pier 6 in Brooklyn Bridge Park—thanks to the Pope's visit to the World Trade Center, downtown is going to be a mess.

See Where New York City Parks Are Being Beautified & Built

Rockaway Beach

Want to get as far away from the congestion of the Pope's visit as possible? Head to the Rockaways; swimming may be off-limits at this point, but there are still plenty of activities—tacos, shopping, people-watching—to keep you occupied. There's also a small park that pays tribute to Rockaways residents lost on 9/11, located near the Beach 116th Street subway stop. [Photo by Scott Lynch]

New York Botanical Garden

The leaves may not be turning just yet at the New York Botanical Garden, but that doesn't mean it won't be a beautiful place to visit this time of year. Plus, there are only a few weeks left to check out its blockbuster Frida Kahlo exhibition, which is a good alternative if you can't get to the Museum of Modern Art this week. [Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen]

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Kings Theatre

Both Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall are within the area that will basically be off-limits during the Pope's visit—and thousands of spectators will pack MSG on Friday for a papal mass. But the historic Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, which reopened this February, is well outside of the Pope's purview and is just as historic as either of those Manhattan venues. If you're an Of Monsters and Men or Jackson Browne fan, you're in luck: they're playing on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

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Apostolic Journeys outside Italy - 2023

Apostolic journey of his holiness pope francis to dubai on the occasion of the conference of the parties to the united nations framework convention on climate change (cop28) (1-3 december 2023), [ arabic  -  english  -  french  -  german  -  italian  -  polish  -  portuguese  -  spanish ], apostolic journey of his holiness pope francis to marseille for the conclusion of the “rencontres méditerranéennes” (22-23 september 2023), apostolic journey of his holiness pope francis to mongolia (31 august - 4 september 2023), apostolic journey of his holiness pope francis to portugal on the occasion of the xxxvii world youth day ( 2-6 august 2023), apostolic journey of his holiness pope francis to hungary (28 - 30 april 2023), apostolic journey of his holiness pope francis to the democratic republic of congo and south sudan (ecumenical peace pilgrimage to the south sudan) (31 january - 5 february 2023), [ english  -  french  -  german  -  italian  -  polish  -  portuguese  -  spanish ].

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Pope Francis Planning Indonesia Visit, Minister Says

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis gestures on the day of the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 3, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi on Wednesday said Pope Francis was planning a visit to the predominantly Muslim country and discussions were ongoing with the Vatican about the trip.

"Yes, Pope Francis plans to visit Indonesia. We are currently preparing everything now," Retno told Reuters, but provided no timeframe.

The Vatican's foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher in an interview last month with Jesuit magazine America said Pope Francis planned to visit Indonesia, Singapore, East Timor, Papua New Guinea in early September, and possibly Vietnam.

The Vatican has yet to confirm dates for the Asia trip, which would be one of the most taxing for Francis, who is 87 and whose health has been poor recently, forcing him to cancel some engagements including some Easter events last week.

Indonesian media reports, citing the religious affairs minister, have said Francis would visit in September.

Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim nation and its 8 millions Catholics represent about 3% of the total population of about 270 million people.

Photos You Should See

The Philippines and East Timor are the only predominantly Catholic countries in Asia.

Indonesia has been visited by two popes before. The first, Pope Paul VI in a 1970 trip to Jakarta and in 1989, Pope John Paul II, who visited Jakarta and four other cities.

(Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Stefanno Sulaiman in Jakarta and Alvise Armellini in Rome; Editing by Martin Petty)

Copyright 2024 Thomson Reuters .

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Benedict backed me up on rights for LGBTQ couples, Pope Francis says

VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis found an ally in his predecessor Benedict XVI when he spoke in favor of civil partnerships for same-sex couples, the pontiff said in a new book due out in Spain.

The work is set for publication on Wednesday, but its contents were shared in advance on Tuesday with several media, including Reuters.

Francis has confirmed the Catholic Church’s opposition to LGBTQ marriages, but has repeatedly said same-sex couples have a right to be protected by civil union laws.

A greater openness towards the LGBTQ community has been one of the hallmarks of his 11-year papacy, but the more conservative Benedict was not known as sympathetic to the cause.

Nevertheless, Francis said Benedict stood up for him before an unnamed group of cardinals who had gone to him to complain about the pope’s “heresies” on civil partnerships.

“They showed up at his home to practically put me on trial and they accused me in front of him of backing same-sex marriage,” Francis said.

Benedict XVI listened, “helped them distinguish things” and told them that what Francis had said was “no heresy,” the pope said.

Francis made the revelation in the Spanish-language book “Pope Francis. The Successor: My memories of Benedict XVI,” based on interviews with journalist Javier Martinez-Brocal.

Already in February 2023, the pope had said that Benedict once dismissed a complaint about what Francis said on civil unions, but offered fewer details.

Same-sex blessings

In December, Francis allowed priests to  bless same-sex couples , sparking conservative outrage, insisting this did not amount to a formal approval for non-heterosexual relationships.

There is no suggestion that Francis discussed that move with Benedict, who continued living in the Vatican after his shock decision to retire in 2013, until his death in late 2022.

In the book, Francis denied there were ever any personal frictions with his predecessor during the unprecedented so-called “two popes” period.

He confirmed he had a  difficult relationship  with Benedict’s secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, who released a critical book on Francis just hours after Benedict’s burial.

“To publish a book that lays into me on the day of the funeral, telling things that are not true, is very sad,” Francis said.

Francis, who is 87 and in  increasingly frail  health, also talked about his funeral plans, confirming plans to simplify burial rites for him and his successors.

The bodies of dead popes will no longer be exposed, lying in state, before being placed in a coffin, as has been done for Benedict and previous pontiffs, he said.

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As we enter a year filled with anticipation, a prevalent question surfaces: Will Pope Francis make a return to Argentina after a decade of his pontificate? This query resonates with many, as Pope Francis has often voiced his wish to revisit his homeland - a trip that would be his first as the pontiff. Despite this desire, health issues have been a concern, notably his influenza, which, while unrelated to his overall health that necessitated two surgeries in the past three years, led to the cancellation of his intended trip to Dubai for COP28.

In an interview with Televisa, Pope Francis has detailed plans for three potential trips in the upcoming year: to Argentina, Belgium for the 600th anniversary of the University of Louvain, and to Polynesia. Of these, the visit to Belgium is confirmed.

Polynesia emerges as an unexpected destination , having never been mentioned by the Pope previously, in contrast to his expressed interest in visiting Papua New Guinea. A trip incorporating Thailand was also under consideration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Belgium, on the other hand, is a definitive stop . With preliminary announcements emanating from Brussels, the visit is slated for September, implying that a journey to Polynesia would likely be scheduled for the summer.

Meanwhile, Argentina might feature in the Pope's itinerary in the early months of the year . A notable occasion is the rescheduled canonization of Mamma Antula, Argentina's Spiritual Mother, now set for February 11 instead of May. While canonizations are typically held in Rome and presided over by the Pope, there is a possibility that Pope Francis may exceptionally conduct this ceremony in Buenos Aires. February or March are being considered as probable for this potential visit to Argentina.

The earlier speculation of a trip to Kosovo appears to have been dismissed. Kosovo, a state not recognized by the Holy See, was mentioned by the Pope in an interview with Vida Nueva prior to his journey to Mongolia.

An additional, highly symbolic visit has been proposed: Pope Francis has received an invitation to visit Vietnam, extended by the country's Government Committee for Religious Affairs . The invitation, sent to Santa Marta, encourages the Pope to witness firsthand the socio-economic progress and religious life in this Southeast Asian nation.

As per the committee, Vietnam's President Thuong has conveyed his and the country's seven million Catholics' eagerness to welcome the Pope. He noted the profound impression left by his encounters with Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his Vatican visit in July.

Significantly, on December 23, the Holy See appointed its first resident representative in Hanoi, marking a crucial step towards establishing full diplomatic relations.

Nonetheless, the number of Pope Francis's trips is expected to be no more than three.

This article was originally published on ACI Stampa. 

Andrea Gagliarducci is an Italian journalist for Catholic News Agency and Vatican analyst for ACI Stampa. He is a contributor to the National Catholic Register.

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Pope Francis waves from St Peter's basilica during an Easter message as part of the Holy Week celebrations, in the Vatican on Mar 31, 2024. (Photo: AFP/Tiziana FABI)

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SINGAPORE:  Pope Francis is expected to visit Singapore as part of a trip to Asia later this year, with officials from Singapore and the Holy See in discussions on the proposed visit. 

According to Archbishop Paul R Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, the Pope's trip to Singapore, Indonesia , Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea would take place in September. 

Vietnam could be added to the list, he said in a Mar 26 article by America magazine, which is published by the Jesuits in the United States. 

In January, two other Catholic publications - EWTN Vatican and Radio Veritas Asia - reported that the Pope is likely to visit Singapore in August. 

"Singapore welcomes a visit by Pope Francis," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Tuesday evening (Apr 2) in response to CNA's query.

"Officials from Singapore and the Holy See are in discussion on the proposed visit."

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore told CNA earlier on Tuesday that while it is aware of the "unconfirmed reports" by the various Catholic publications, it had no confirmation at the time that the Pope is coming to Singapore. 

The last time a pope visited Singapore was in 1986 when John Paul II made a five-hour stop as part of his Asia-Pacific tour that included Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia. 

Thousands attended a papal mass at the National Stadium on Nov 20, 1986.

Pope Francis, 87, has made more than 40 trips abroad since his election by cardinals in 2013.

His first official visit to Asia was in 2014 when he went to South Korea.

The Vatican has said he will visit Belgium later this year and the Pope has mentioned a possible visit to his native Argentina.

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Indonesian Catholics welcome pope’s visit plan with glee

Some members of the Roman Catholic Church in Indonesia are praying hard for the pope's health amid recent concerns surrounding his condition during the Good Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations.

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The Indonesian Catholic community is celebrating the news of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit to the country, hoping that the religious figure remains healthy until his scheduled trip in September.

The pope is slated to make his first-ever visit to the Southeast Asian country on Sept. 3, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas said last weekend, following President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s invitation for the 87-year-old pontiff in June 2022.

“I believe this will be a special gift for the Catholics,” Yaqut said on Saturday, adding that it would be an honor for Indonesia to host the bishop of Rome.

Before heading to Indonesia, Pope Francis is expected to visit Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste in August, as reported by sources from the Vatican.

Pope Francis would be the third pope to visit Indonesia, after Pope Paul VI in 1970 and Pope John Paul II in 1989. Both were greeted by former president Soeharto.

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The news of Pope Francis’ upcoming visit, which came ahead of Easter Sunday, was met with joy by Catholics who were excited about getting the chance to see him.

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Pope exposes confidential details of past conclaves, settles scores with Pope Benedict XVI’s aide

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Pope Francis has exposed the political “maneuvers” used to sway votes during the two most recent elections of popes, while denying he is planning to reform the process for future conclaves, in a book-length interview published Tuesday.

The confidential revelations are contained in “The Successor: My Memories of Benedict XVI,” in which the Argentine pope reflects on his relationship with the late German pope and settles some scores with Benedict’s longtime aide.

The book, written as a conversation with the correspondent for Spain’s ABC daily, Javier Martínez-Brocal, comes at a delicate time for the 87-year-old Francis. His frail health has raised questions about how much longer he will remain pope, whether he might follow in Benedict’s footsteps and resign, and who might eventually replace him.

In the book, Francis revealed previously confidential details about the 2005 conclave that elected Benedict pope and the 2013 ballot in which he himself was elected, saying he was allowed to deviate from the cardinals’ oath of secrecy because he is pope.

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In 2005, Francis said, he was “used” by cardinals who wanted to block the election of Benedict — then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — and that they managed to sway 40 out of 115 votes his way. The idea wasn’t to elect the Argentine but rather to force a compromise candidate after knocking Ratzinger out of the running, he said.

“They told me afterward that they didn’t want a ‘foreign’ pope,” — in other words, a non-Italian one — Francis said, making clear that the process wasn’t so much about the Holy Spirit inspiring cardinals as it was a cold, hard political calculus.

Francis said he put an end to the maneuvering by announcing that he wouldn’t accept being pope, after which Ratzinger was elected.

“He was the only one who could be pope in that moment,” Francis said, adding that he, too, voted for Ratzinger.

In 2013, after Benedict’s resignation, there was more political maneuvering. Francis — who at the time was Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio — said he only realized after the fact that cardinals were coalescing behind him, pestering him with questions about the church in Latin America and dropping hints that he was gaining support.

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He said it finally dawned on him that he might be pope when Spanish Cardinal Santos Abril y Castelló came running after him after lunch on March 13, just before what would become the final ballot.

The Spanish cardinal had what was clearly a health-related question about Bergoglio’s ability to take on the physical rigors of the papacy, after opponents apparently had raised his health as a possible impediment to his election.

“Eminence, is it true you’re missing a lung?” Francis recounted Abril as saying, to which he replied that he had part of one lung removed after a respiratory infection. After he assured the cardinal that the operation had taken place more than 50 years earlier, he remembered Abril muttering: “Oh these last-minute maneuvers…”

Francis in the interview denied rumors he is planning any reform of the conclave rules for a future papal election.

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Conservative media have speculated, without any attribution, that Francis was tinkering with the protocols to limit pre-conclave discussions about the needs of the church to cardinals aged under 80. Only those cardinals — most of whom were appointed by Francis — are able to vote for the next pope, but older colleagues are currently allowed to take part in the earlier discussions.

While Francis denied any such reform, he revealed he was revising the protocol for papal funerals. Francis said Benedict’s would be “the last wake in which the body of a pope is exposed in an open coffin, on a bier.”

He said he wanted to ensure popes “are buried like any son of the church,” in a dignified, but not excessive manner.

In the book, Francis also settles some scores with Benedict’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Gaenswein, whom he initially fired and then exiled from the Vatican after what he described as a series of imprudent decisions that “made life difficult for me.”

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Gaenswein is widely believed to have helped fuel the anti-Francis opposition during Benedict’s decade-long retirement, allowing Benedict to be used by conservatives nostalgic for his doctrinaire papacy. He was behind some of the biggest hiccups in the unusual cohabitation of two popes.

Francis reveals details about one well-known incident in 2020, in which Cardinal Robert Sarah, the conservative former Vatican liturgy chief, co-authored a book with Benedict reasserting the need for a celibate priesthood.

The book was published at the precise moment Francis was considering calls to relax celibacy requirements and allow married priests in order to address a shortage of clergy in the Amazon. It caused a stir because Benedict’s participation in the book raised the prospect of the former pope trying to influence the decision-making of a current one.

Francis squarely blames Gaenswein for the affair, insisting that Sarah was a “good man” who perhaps was “manipulated by separatist groups.” Francis said he felt compelled to sideline Gaenswein after the ruckus.

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“I was obliged to ask Benedict’s secretary to take a voluntary leave, but keeping the title of prefect of the papal household and the salary,” Francis said.

Gaenswein later sealed his fate with Francis when he published a tell-all memoir, “Nothing But the Truth,” in the days after Benedict’s Dec. 31, 2022, death that was highly critical of Francis.

“It pained me that they used Benedict. The book was published on the day of his burial, and I felt it was a lack of nobility and humanity,” Francis said.

Francis insisted that Benedict always deferred to him, defended him and supported him and was not behind any of the conservative attacks or maneuvers to undermine his authority.

He denied that his dry homily during Benedict’s funeral, criticized by conservatives as lacking praise, was a sign of anything other than liturgical protocol.

“You don’t deliver eulogies in homilies,” he said.

Winfield writes for the Associated Press.

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