Latest news with #SaluspopuliRomani
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How Pope Francis Is Breaking With Tradition in Where He'll Be Buried
Pope Francis passed away today at age 88, the Vatican announced. 'He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with faithfulness, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and the marginalized,' Cardinal Kevin Farrell said. After his funeral, which will be held in the coming days, Pope Francis will be laid to rest at Santa Maria Maggiore (St. Mary Major), a church to which he had a 'very strong connection.' Notably, while it is an unconventional choice, the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the four major papal basilicas, and is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome. Francis's choice 'reflects his veneration of an icon of the Virgin Mary that is located there, the Salus populi Romani (Salvation of the people of Rome),' the Associated Press noted. According to tradition, the Salus Populi Romani was painted by Saint Luke the Evangelist. Before each of his international trips, Pope Francis visited the icon, and Catholic News Agency estimated in 2023 he made over 100 visits to the basilica throughout his reign as pope. Pope Francis's burial breaks with recent papal tradition; most popes are laid to rest in St. Peter's Basilica. He will be the first pope not buried in there in over a century—the last pope not buried at St. Peter's was Pope Leo XIII, whose grave is located at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. According to the National Cathedral Register, likely more than 140 of the 265 deceased popes in history are buried in the crypts beneath St. Peter's. Meanwhile, just six other pontiffs are buried at the Santa Maria Maggiore, the last being Pope Clement IX, who died 1669. You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game
The Independent
24-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The unexpected detour the Pope made on his way home from hospital
Pope Francis made a surprise detour on his way home after five weeks of hospitalisation with a serious bout of pneumonia, visiting his favourite basilica to lay flowers. The 88-year-old pontiff, requiring supplemental oxygen via nasal tubes, was driven in his Fiat 500L through the Perugino gate to the Vatican, marking a welcome return after anxieties about his health and potential resignation. His motorcade, en route from Gemelli hospital, unexpectedly diverted to St Mary Major basilica, home to a cherished icon of the Madonna. This basilica is a place of personal significance for the Pope, who traditionally visits it to pray after trips abroad. Remaining in his car, he presented a bouquet of flowers to be placed before the Salus populi Romani icon, a Byzantine-style painting deeply revered by Romans. The icon holds such importance for Francis that he has reportedly chosen the basilica as his final resting place. The detour through Rome followed the Pope's first public appearance in five weeks, where he offered a brief blessing and a thumbs-up from a hospital balcony. Hundreds had gathered to witness his departure, observing a seemingly weakened Francis. 'I see this woman with the yellow flowers. Brava!' Francis said in a breathless voice. He gave a weak sign of the cross before being wheeled back inside. Chants of 'Viva il papa!' and 'Papa Francesco' erupted from the crowd, which included patients who had been wheeled outside just to catch his brief appearance. Doctors say Francis needs two months of rest and convalescence at the Vatican, during which he should refrain from meeting with big groups of people or exerting himself. But they said he should be able to resume all his normal activities eventually. His return home came after the longest hospitalisation of his 12-year papacy and the second-longest in recent papal history. At the Vatican, where a Holy Year is under way, pilgrims cheered and applauded when Francis's greeting from Gemelli was broadcast live on giant TV screens in St Peter's Square. 'For me it was an important emotional experience to see him, because many people were waiting for this moment,' said Sister Luisa Jimènez, a nun from Francis' native Argentina. Another nun from the same order, Colombian Sister Angel Bernal Amparo, expressed concern, given his bloating and inability to speak much. 'He didn't look well,' she said. "He couldn't (talk) and I realised it was because of his breathing and, well, he left right there. But I was glad to have seen him.' No special arrangements have been made at the Domus Santa Marta, the Vatican hotel where Francis lives in a two-room suite on the second floor next to the basilica. He will have supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed, although his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, said he hoped Francis would progressively need less and less assistance breathing as his lungs recover. The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli on February 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed a complex bacterial, viral and fungal respiratory tract infection and soon thereafter, pneumonia in both lungs. Blood tests showed signs of anaemia, low blood platelets and the onset of kidney failure, all of which later resolved after two blood transfusions. Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical and surgical chief at Gemelli who coordinated Francis' medical team, stressed that not all patients who develop such a severe cases of double pneumonia survive, much less are released from the hospital. He said Francis's life was at risk twice, during two acute respiratory crises, and that the pope at the time understandably lost his typical good sense of humour. 'But one morning we went to listen to his lungs and we asked him how he was doing. When he replied, 'I'm still alive,' we knew he was OK and had gotten his good humor back,' he told a news conference late Saturday. Alfieri said that Francis was still having trouble speaking due to the damage to his lungs and respiratory muscles. But he said such problems were normal, especially in older patients, and predicted his voice would eventually return. Francis is also continuing to take medication to treat a more minor respiratory infection.
South China Morning Post
23-03-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Pope Francis back home after 5-week hospital stay for life-threatening double pneumonia
A frail Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday after a five-week hospitalisation for life-threatening double pneumonia, and he made a surprise stop at his favourite basilica on the way home before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. Advertisement The 88-year-old pope sat in the front passenger seat of his white Fiat 500L wearing nasal tubes to give him supplemental oxygen as he entered the Perugino gate of Vatican City, Italy , where his return brought relief after fears that his illness could be fatal or lead to another papal resignation. Francis' motorcade from Gemelli hospital overshot the Vatican initially and took a detour across town to stop at St Mary Major basilica, where the pope's favourite icon of the Madonna is located and where he always goes to pray after a foreign visit. He did not get out of the car but gave a bouquet of flowers to the basilica's cardinal to place in front of the Salus populi Romani icon. The Byzantine-style painting on wood is revered by Romans and is so important to Francis that he has chosen to be buried in the basilica to be near it. The tour through Rome's historic centre came after Francis made his first appearance in five weeks to give a thumbs-up and brief blessing from a hospital balcony. Hundreds of people had gathered on a brilliant spring Sunday morning to say goodbye and catch a first glimpse of Francis, who seemed to be gasping for air. Advertisement 'I see this woman with the yellow flowers. Brava!' a bloated-looking Francis said in a breathless voice. He gave a weak sign of the cross before being wheeled back inside.
Los Angeles Times
23-03-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Pope returns to Vatican after 5 weeks in hospital for double pneumonia
VATICAN CITY — A frail Pope Francis returned to the Vatican on Sunday after a five-week hospitalization for life-threatening double pneumonia, and he made a surprise stop at his favorite basilica on the way home before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. The 88-year-old pope sat in the front passenger seat of his white Fiat 500 wearing nasal tubes to give him supplemental oxygen as he entered the Perugino gate of Vatican City, where his return brought relief after fears that his illness could be fatal or lead to another papal resignation. Francis' motorcade from Gemelli hospital overshot the Vatican initially and took a detour across town to stop at St. Mary Major basilica, where the pope's favorite icon of the Madonna is located and where he always goes to pray after a foreign visit. He didn't get out of the car but gave a bouquet of flowers to the basilica's cardinal to place in front of the Salus populi Romani icon. The Byzantine-style painting on wood is revered by Romans and is so important to Francis that he has chosen to be buried in the basilica to be near it. Before leaving the hospital, Francis was wheeled onto a balcony overlooking its main entrance and gave a thumbs-up and acknowledged the crowd. Hundreds of people had gathered on a brilliant spring Sunday morning to say goodbye and catch a first glimpse of Francis in five weeks. 'I see this woman with the yellow flowers. Brava!' a bloated-looking Francis said in a breathless voice. He gave a weak sign of the cross before being wheeled back inside, seemingly gasping for air. Chants of 'Viva il papa!' and 'Papa Francesco' erupted from the crowd, which included patients who had been wheeled outside just to catch his brief appearance. Doctors say Francis needs two months of rest and convalescence at the Vatican, during which he should refrain from meeting with big groups of people or exerting himself. But they said he should be able to resume all his normal activities eventually. His return home, after the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy and the second-longest in recent papal history, brought tangible relief to the Vatican and Catholic faithful who have been anxiously following 38 days of medical ups and downs and wondering if Francis would make it. 'Today I feel a great joy,' said Dr. Rossella Russomando, who was at Gemelli on Sunday but did not treat Francis. 'It is the demonstration that all our prayers, all the rosary prayers from all over the world, brought this grace.' At the Vatican, pilgrims flocked as they have all year to St. Peter's Basilica to participate in the 2025 Holy Year. They swarmed St. Peter's Square and progressed through the Holy Door in groups, while big TV screens in the square were turned on to broadcast Francis' hospital greeting live. 'I saw him and I am so blessed that I am here,' said Sister Imelda Legk, a nun from Indonesia who saw Francis at the hospital. 'We continually pray for him, for the good health so that we can have him until the end' especially since it's a Jubilee year. No special arrangements have been made at the Domus Santa Marta, the Vatican hotel where Francis lives in a two-room suite on the second floor next to the basilica. He will have supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed, although his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, said he hoped Francis would progressively need less and less assistance breathing as his lungs recover. While the pneumonia infection has been treated successfully, Francis will continue to take oral medication for some time for the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy. 'For three or four days, he's been asking when he can go home, so he's very happy,' Carbone said. The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed a complex bacterial, viral and fungal respiratory tract infection and soon thereafter, pneumonia in both lungs. Blood tests showed signs of anemia, low blood platelets and the onset of kidney failure, all of which later resolved after two blood transfusions. The most serious setbacks began Feb. 28, when Francis experienced an acute coughing fit and inhaled vomit, requiring the use of a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask to help him breathe. He suffered two more respiratory crises a few days later, which required doctors to manually aspirate 'copious' amounts of mucus from his lungs, at which point he began sleeping with the ventilation mask at night to help his lungs clear the accumulation of fluids. He was never intubated and at no point lost consciousness. Doctors reported he always remained alert and cooperative, although they say he has probably lost a bit of weight given a natural loss of appetite. 'Unfortunately yes, there was a moment when many were saying that he might not make it. And it was painful for us,' said Mario Balsamo, the owner of coffee shop in front of Gemelli. 'Instead, today with the discharge, we are very happy that he is well and we hope he will recover soon and will recover his strength.' Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical and surgical chief at Gemelli who coordinated Francis' medical team, stressed that not all patients who develop such a severe cases of double pneumonia survive, much less are released from the hospital. He said Francis' life was at risk twice, during the two acute respiratory crises, and that the pope at the time understandably lost his typical good sense of humor. 'But one morning we went to listen to his lungs and we asked him how he was doing. When he replied, 'I'm still alive,' we knew he was OK and had gotten his good humor back,' he told a news conference late Saturday. Alfieri confirmed that Francis was still having trouble speaking due to the damage to his lungs and respiratory muscles. But he said such problems were normal, especially in older patients, and predicted his voice would eventually return. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni declined to confirm any upcoming events, including a scheduled audience on April 8 with King Charles III or Francis' participation in Easter services at the end of the month. But Carbone said he hoped Francis might be well enough to travel to Turkey at the end of May to participate in an important ecumenical anniversary. Only St. John Paul II recorded a longer hospitalization in 1981, when he spent 55 days at Gemelli for minor surgery and treatment of an infection. Winfield, Santalucia and Thomas write for the Associated Press. AP writers Giada Zampano in Rome and Colleen Barry in Soave, Italy, contributed to this report.
Chicago Tribune
23-03-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Pope arrives home at Vatican after 5-week hospital stay to beat life-threatening bout of pneumonia
VATICAN CITY — A weak and frail Pope Francis returned home to the Vatican from the hospital on Sunday after surviving a five-week, life-threatening bout of pneumonia, making a surprise stop at his favorite basilica on the way home before beginning two months of prescribed rest and recovery. The motorcade carrying the 88-year-old pope entered the Perugino gate into Vatican City, and Francis was seen in the front passenger seat wearing nasal tubes to give him supplemental oxygen. During the trip home from Gemelli hospital, Francis took a slight detour to bring him to the St. Mary Major basilica, where his favorite icon of the Madonna is located and where he always goes to pray after a foreign visit. Francis didn't get out of the car, but handed a bouquet of flowers to the cardinal to place in front of the Salus populi Romani icon, a Byzantine-style painting on wood that is revered by Romans. Before leaving the hospital, Francis gave a thumbs up and acknowledged the crowd after he was wheeled out onto the balcony overlooking the main entry. Hundreds of people had gathered on a brilliant Sunday morning to say goodbye. 'I see this woman with the yellow flowers. Brava!' a tired and bloated-looking Francis said. He gave a weak sign of the cross before being wheeled back inside. Chants of 'Viva il papa!' and 'Papa Francesco' erupted from the crowd, which included patients who had been wheeled outside just to catch his brief appearance. Doctors, who announced his planned release at a Saturday evening news conference, said he needs two months of rest and convalescence, during which he should refrain from meeting with big groups of people or exerting himself. But they said eventually he should be able to resume all his normal activities. His return home, after the longest hospitalization of his 12-year papacy and the second-longest in recent papal history, brought tangible relief to the Vatican and Catholic faithful who have been anxiously following 38 days of medical ups and downs and wondering if Francis would make it. 'Today I feel a great joy,' said Dr. Rossella Russomando, a doctor from Salerno who didn't treat Francis but was at Gemelli on Sunday. 'It is the demonstration that all our prayers, all the rosary prayers from all over the world, brought this grace.' Pope is happy to go home At the Vatican Sunday, pilgrims flocked as they have all year to St. Peter's Basilica to participate in the 2025 Holy Year. They swarmed St. Peter's Square and progressed through the Holy Door in groups, while big TV screens in the square were turned on to broadcast Francis' hospital greeting live. No special arrangements have been made at the Domus Santa Marta, the Vatican hotel next to the basilica where Francis lives in a two-room suite on the second floor. Francis will have access to supplemental oxygen and 24-hour medical care as needed, though his personal physician, Dr. Luigi Carbone, said he hoped Francis would progressively need less and less assistance breathing as his lungs recover. While the pneumonia infection has been successfully treated, Francis will continue to take oral medication for quite some time to treat the fungal infection in his lungs and continue his respiratory and physical physiotherapy. 'For three or four days he's been asking when he can go home, so he's very happy,' Carbone said. Two life-threatening crises The Argentine pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, was admitted to Gemelli on Feb. 14 after a bout of bronchitis worsened. Doctors first diagnosed a complex bacterial, viral and fungal respiratory tract infection and soon thereafter, pneumonia in both lungs. Blood tests showed signs of anemia, low blood platelets and the onset of kidney failure, all of which later resolved after two blood transfusions. The most serious setbacks began on Feb. 28, when Francis experienced an acute coughing fit and inhaled vomit, requiring the use of a noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask to help him breathe. He suffered two more respiratory crises a few days later, which required doctors to manually aspirate 'copious' amounts of mucus from his lungs, at which point he began sleeping with the ventilation mask at night to help his lungs clear the accumulation of fluids. He was never intubated and at no point lost consciousness. Doctors reported he always remained alert and cooperative, though they say he has probably lost a bit of weight given a natural loss of appetite. 'Unfortunately yes, there was a moment when many were saying that he might not make it. And it was painful for us,' said Mario Balsamo, the owner of coffee shop in front of Gemelli. 'Instead, today with the discharge, we are very happy that he is well and we hope he will recover soon and will recover his strength.' 'I'm still alive!' Dr. Sergio Alfieri, the medical and surgical chief at Gemelli who coordinated Francis' medical team, stressed that not all patients who develop such a severe case of double pneumonia survive, much less are released from the hospital. He said Francis' life was at risk twice, during the two acute respiratory crises, and that the pope at the time understandably lost his typical good sense of humor. 'But one morning we went to listen to his lungs and we asked him how he was doing. When he replied, 'I'm still alive,' we knew he was OK and had gotten his good humor back,' he said. Alfieri confirmed that Francis was still having trouble speaking due to the damage to his lungs and respiratory muscles. But he said such problems were normal, especially in older patients, and predicted his voice would eventually return to normal. No confirmed appointments for now The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, declined to confirm any upcoming events, including a scheduled audience on April 8 with King Charles III or Francis' participation in Easter services at the end of the month. But Carbone said he hoped Francis might be well enough to travel to Turkey at the end of May to participate in an important ecumenical anniversary. Francis is also returning to the Vatican in the throes of a Holy Year, the once-every-quarter-century celebration scheduled to draw more than 30 million pilgrims to Rome this year. The pope has already missed several Jubilee audiences and will presumably miss several more, but Vatican officials say his absence hasn't significantly impacted the numbers of expected pilgrims arriving. Only St. John Paul II recorded a longer hospitalization in 1981, when he spent 55 days at Gemelli for minor surgery and treatment of an infection.
