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Gone quiet · last update Apr 26, 2025 / Pope Francis

Pope Francis's health struggles and his death on Easter Monday 2025

Overview · reviewed October 24, 2026

Pope Francis, the first pope from Latin America, was hospitalized repeatedly in his last years, including for five weeks with double pneumonia in early 2025.[1] He died on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, at 88, a day after appearing to the faithful on Easter.[2][3]

Read the timeline

Follow this story to see new developments when you return.

He died on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, at 88, a day after appearing to the faithful on Easter.[2][3]

Coverage over time

Share of tracked outlets · monthly average of weekly shares (UTC)

Jun 2022: average weekly share 1% (left 1%, center 0%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2022: average weekly share 5% (left 2%, center 2%, right 2%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2022: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2022: average weekly share 2% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2023: average weekly share 7% (left 3%, center 4%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2023: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2023: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksJun 2023: average weekly share 10% (left 4%, center 5%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2023: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksNov 2023: average weekly share 6% (left 2%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2023: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksJan 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksFeb 2024: average weekly share 3% (left 1%, center 1%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2024: average weekly share 5% (left 1%, center 3%, right 1%), from 4 of 4 weeksApr 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksMay 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJul 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksAug 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2024: average weekly share 1% (left under 1%, center under 1%, right under 1%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2024: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2025: average weekly share 23% (left 7%, center 12%, right 4%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2025: average weekly share 21% (left 5%, center 13%, right 4%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2025: average weekly share 23% (left 7%, center 10%, right 6%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksSep 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksOct 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksDec 2025: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJan 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksFeb 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMar 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksApr 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksMay 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksJun 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksJul 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksAug 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 5 of 5 weeksSep 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksOct 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 4 of 4 weeksNov 2026: average weekly share 0% (left 0%, center 0%, right 0%), from 2 of 2 weeks, so far

LeftCenterRight

Each bar is the share of the outlets on our Left / Center / Right rating scale that we tracked publishing that week which carried reporting on this story, split by the outlets' ratings. Over more than two years each bar is a month: the average of that month's weekly shares, so the shape stays readable. The weekly table below keeps every week. We track more outlets now than in the archive, so a share keeps earlier and later weeks comparable. An outlet counts once a week however much it published, and outlets in one ownership or syndication group count as one on each side they appear on. A rating describes the outlet, not the report. A gap means no such reports were collected that week, not that nothing was reported anywhere. Weeks run Monday to Sunday in UTC, so a report published on a Sunday evening in US Eastern time counts in the next week. 13 more outlets off the scale (not rated, or outside the left-right graphs) also reported; they are not in this chart. See them.

Weekly counts, outlets and reports (32 weeks with coverage)
Outlets on the rating scale that carried this story each week, of the outlets tracked that week, newest first
Week of (UTC)LeftCenterRightOf trackedShareReceipts
Apr 21, 2025405338131 of 20664%
Apr 14, 2025919836 of 20118%
Apr 7, 2025511420 of 19410%
Mar 31, 2025515222 of 20511%
Mar 24, 2025819734 of 19418%
Mar 17, 20251233954 of 19528%
Mar 10, 2025827742 of 19821%
Mar 3, 202515341160 of 20230%
Feb 24, 20251932859 of 19730%
Feb 17, 202525411480 of 19441%
Feb 10, 20251027643 of 21420%
Sep 23, 20241528 of 2144%
Mar 25, 2024720936 of 24515%
Mar 18, 202456112 of 2465%
Feb 26, 202468418 of 2567%
Feb 19, 20241427 of 2323%
Dec 18, 20231405 of 2362%
Dec 11, 202376821 of 2259%
Nov 27, 2023916631 of 23513%
Nov 20, 202368620 of 20110%
Jun 19, 20231203 of 2631%
Jun 12, 20231718540 of 25016%
Jun 5, 202321341065 of 26525%
May 22, 2023413320 of 2697%
Apr 3, 20231113327 of 26010%
Mar 27, 202328441183 of 27830%
Feb 20, 20231326 of 1843%
Dec 19, 20222114 of 1842%
Dec 12, 202238314 of 1877%
Jul 25, 202287419 of 18410%
Jul 4, 202247819 of 19410%
Jun 6, 20224026 of 1863%

Latest coverage

The newest reporting in this story's record.

  1. Apr 25, 2025 · first reported · Headline from ABC 7 Chicago

    American Kielce Gussie does 1st reading at Pope Francis' funeral

Background

In July 2022, Francis denied rumors that he would resign, though he said he would slow down or might retire.[4][5] That December he revealed that shortly after his election in 2013 he had written a resignation letter to be used if he became medically impaired.[6]

Read the full background (3 more paragraphs)

His health problems mounted in 2023 and 2024. He was treated in a Rome hospital for bronchitis in March 2023 and had abdominal surgery that June.[7][8][9][10] In November he canceled a trip to the UN climate conference in Dubai on doctors' orders while battling lung inflammation,[11][12] and in March 2024 he skipped the Good Friday procession at the Colosseum to preserve his health.[13]

His final illness began in February 2025. Francis was admitted to the hospital for bronchitis, which turned into pneumonia in both lungs.[14][15] The Vatican said he was in critical condition, and he suffered respiratory crises that required assisted ventilation.[16][17] He returned to the Vatican after five weeks.[1] One of his doctors later said the medical team had considered ending treatment so that he could die.[18]

He appeared at the Vatican on Easter Sunday and met Vice President JD Vance,[2][19] and he died the next day.[3] World leaders including President Donald Trump and Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, traveled to Rome for his funeral.[20]

Supporting stories (20)
  1. Pope Francis returns to Vatican after 5-week hospital stay for life-threatening double pneumonia
  2. Pope Francis makes Easter appearance at the Vatican
  3. Pope Francis dies at 88
  4. Pope Francis Denies Rumors of Resignation, Says He Hopes to Visit Kyiv and Moscow
  5. Pope says he'll slow down or retire: 'You can change a pope'
  6. Pope Francis reveals he signed resignation letter in case of medical impairment
  7. Pope Francis could leave Rome hospital 'in a few days' after viral bronchitis treatment
  8. Pope Francis leaves hospital; 'Still alive,' he quips
  9. Pope Francis in ‘good general condition’ after surgery
  10. Pope Francis leaves Rome hospital 9 days after surgery
  11. Pope cancels trip to Dubai for UN climate conference on doctors' orders while recovering from flu - The Daily Reporter
  12. Pope Francis battling lung inflammation on intravenous antibiotics but Vatican says his condition is "good"
  13. Pope skips Good Friday event to preserve health ahead of Easter, Vatican says
  14. Pope Francis hospitalized for bronchitis treatment, Vatican says
  15. Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs as tests show ‘complex picture,’ Vatican says
  16. Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition, suffered asthmatic crisis
  17. Pope had coughing fit, inhaled vomit and now requires assisted ventilation, Vatican says
  18. Doctor treating Pope Francis says team considered ending treatment so he could die
  19. One of Pope Francis' last meetings was with Vice President JD Vance. Here's what they talked about.
  20. Trump and Zelenskyy among dignitaries converging on Rome for funeral of Pope Francis

The full record

Each date is when an update was first reported.

All 99 recorded updates

April 2025

  1. American Kielce Gussie does 1st reading at Pope Francis' funeralHeadline from ABC 7 Chicago · 5 outlets
  2. Pope Francis remembered as 'pope among the people' in funeral homilyHeadline from ABC 7 Chicago · 3 outlets
  3. Mighty and meek attend Pope Francis' funeralHeadline from ABC 7 New York · 8 outlets
  4. Vatican keeps St. Peter's open all night as tens of thousands come to view Pope FrancisHeadline from NBC News · 8 outlets
  5. St. Peter's Basilica opens to the public to pay their respects to Pope Francis before his funeralHeadline from ABC 7 Chicago · 5 outlets
  6. Crowds line up to visit Pope Francis’ tomb in Rome as his last resting place opens to the publicHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 54 outlets
  7. Trump and Zelenskyy among dignitaries converging on Rome for funeral of Pope FrancisHeadline from ABC 11 Raleigh · 19 outlets
  8. How to watch Pope Francis' funeralHeadline from Fox10 Phoenix · 44 outlets
  9. When will Pope Francis' coffin be sealed? Public viewing ends, burial nextHeadline from NBC New York · 10 outlets
  10. Catholic faithful pay their final respects to Pope Francis as public viewing beginsHeadline from East Idaho News · 11 outlets
  11. Pope Francis' body to lie in state before funeral on SaturdayHeadline from Mitchell Daily Republic · 14 outlets
  12. Pope Francis worried about greeting crowd in St. Peter's Square but was thankful he did, report saysHeadline from WDIO Duluth · 9 outlets
  13. Canonization of first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, postponed after Pope Francis deathHeadline from New York Post · 5 outlets
  14. Pope Francis, voice for the poor who transformed the Catholic Church, dies on Easter MondayHeadline from ABC 17 Mid-Missouri · 6 outlets
  15. Pope Francis: share your tributes and memoriesHeadline from The Guardian · 3 outlets
  16. Here's where Pope Francis will be buriedHeadline from FOX 5 New York · 9 outlets
  17. Tributes from world leaders pour in after Pope Francis' deathHeadline from ABC 7 New York · 9 outlets
  18. Pope Francis’ cause of death revealed by the VaticanHeadline from New York Post · 13 outlets
  19. Pope Francis converted to the environmental cause and denounced those he blamed for climate changeHeadline from ABC 10 Sacramento · 10 outlets
  20. Pope Francis dies at 88Headline from Moultrie Observer · 114 outlets
  21. Pope Francis' body moved to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewingHeadline from Fox2 Detroit · 15 outlets
  22. Pope Francis’ burial plans differ drastically from his predecessors’Headline from New York Post · 6 outlets
  23. Flags ordered to half-staff in honor of Pope FrancisHeadline from ABC 12 Flint · 10 outlets
  24. Pope Francis appears on Easter Sunday to cheers as he recovers from pneumoniaHeadline from NBC Chicago · 5 outlets
  25. One of Pope Francis' last meetings was with Vice President JD Vance. Here's what they talked about.Headline from News West 9 · 32 outlets

Coverage & sources

Read the reports, see how much was collected over time, or compare outlets by political leaning.

Coverage & sources →