24-02-2025
Who is Pope Francis? Catholic pontiff is hospitalized with pneumonia
Pope Francis remains in critical condition, the Vatican said, while being treated at a Rome hospital for pneumonia in both lungs as church leaders asked for prayers for the pontiff's health.
"Pope Francis had a restful 10th night in the hospital, according to a statement published on Monday morning by the Holy See Press Office," Vatican News said.
The Pope is being treated at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. The Associated Press on Monday reported that he also was suffering "mild" kidney failure, but that it was "under control."
Here's what we know about Pope Francis.
Pope Francis is 88 years old and was elected by the College of Cardinals to be pope on March 13, 2013. He was the first pope from the southern hemisphere and the first non-European elected in almost 1,300 years. He also was the first Jesuit chosen pope. He is the 266th pope of the Roman Catholic Church, according to e-Catholic 2000.
Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Dec. 17, 1936. He chose priesthood in his 20s and, in 1963, graduated with a degree in philosophy from the Colegio de San José in San Miguel, The Holy See said.
In 1969, he was ordained a priest by Archbishop Ramón José Castellano.
At the Consistory of Feb. 21, 2001, John Paul II named him a cardinal.
"Following the worsening of his bronchitis in recent days," Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Agostino Gemelli Hospital Feb. 14 the Vatican said in a release, and, "has undergone specialist examinations and has begun hospital pharmacological treatment."
He has been hospitalized since then. On Saturday, He suffered a respiratory crisis.
The condition of the Holy Father continues to be critical, the Vatican said. "Therefore, as explained yesterday, the Pope is not out of danger. This morning, Pope Francis experienced an asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen."
The Vatican has said he has double pneumonia.
The pope lives in Vatican City, an independent state surrounded by Rome, Italy. He stays in the Apostolic Palace, referred to as the papal palace or Vatican palace, a massive complex within the city, said.
Pope Francis lives in the Vatican guesthouse called Domus Sanctae Marthae (Saint Martha's House), rather than the Papal Apartments.
The camerlengo, a high-ranking Vatican official, seals the papal apartments and other offices, a tradition that originated to prevent looting and now serves as a symbolic end to the pope's rule. The Vatican enters into a nine-day mourning period.
According to the Universi Dominici Gregis constitution, which governs papal transitions, the Pope must be buried between the fourth and sixth day after death.
Traditionally, popes have been buried in three nested coffins — one of cypress, one of zinc, and one of elm. However, Francis has opted for a simpler wooden and zinc coffin. Like his predecessors, he will likely be buried with a rogito, a document summarizing his life and papacy, according to The Catholic Company.
Once a pope dies, or retires as Benedict XVI did, a new pope must be selected.
To fill a vacancy, the College of Cardinals meets at the Vatican for what is known as a conclave.
The conclave, the process of electing a new pope, begins 15-20 days after the Pope's passing. Only cardinals under the age of 80 are eligible to vote, which typically includes around 120 cardinals. Before voting, they take an oath of secrecy and are secluded in the Sistine Chapel, cut off from outside influences.
A candidate must received two-thirds of all votes to become pope.
The Pope is the head of state and Roman Catholic Church and is considered a unifying political and religious correspondent to Catholics all around the world. He is often traveling and holding masses, Sight Seeing Tours Italy said.
According to the Pope is considered the "Supreme Pastor," following the efforts of St. Peter the first pope of the Catholic Church.
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This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Pope Francis hospitalized. What to know about the Catholic leader
