The Dispatch

A Week at Canary Wharf

March 2, 2025 Tracey Rowland 4

The ExCel Conference Centre near Canary Wharf in the East End of London was recently the location for two major conferences: the 2025 ARC (Alliance for Responsible Citizenship) event, and a Word on Fire conference […]

The Dispatch

Pope’s health remains stable following respiratory crisis

March 1, 2025 Catholic News Agency 5
A statue of St. John Paul II is seen in front of the entrance to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on Feb. 22, 2025, where Pope Francis continues to receive treatment for respiratory issues. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez/CNA

CNA Newsroom, Mar 1, 2025 / 13:30 pm (CNA).

Pope Francis’ clinical condition remains stable after Friday’s bronchospasm episode that caused vomiting and sudden respiratory deterioration, according to a Holy See Press Office statement released Saturday evening.

The 88-year-old pontiff has been alternating between noninvasive mechanical ventilation and high-flow oxygen therapy, the Vatican communiqué stated.

Medical updates indicate the Holy Father remains fever-free with no signs of infection in his blood work. His vital signs, including blood pressure and heart rate, continue to be stable. The statement also highlighted that Pope Francis has maintained a healthy appetite and is actively participating in breathing exercises prescribed by his medical team.

Vatican officials confirmed the pope has not experienced further bronchospasm episodes. He remains “alert and oriented” and received the Eucharist Saturday afternoon, after which he dedicated time to prayer.

The statement concluded by noting that “the prognosis remains reserved,” suggesting doctors are still cautious about the pope’s recovery timeline.

The Holy See Press Office confirmed earlier today that, as with the previous two Sundays, the text of the Angelus will be distributed in written form tomorrow rather than delivered by the pope in person.

According to Vatican sources, the pontiff’s breathing is improving, though his overall condition remains complex. The situation regarding his pneumonia is described as stable.

Francis prayed for approximately 20 minutes in the chapel near his room on the 10th floor of Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, where he is receiving treatment. The pope reportedly remains in good spirits and has been informed of the many prayers being offered for him.

Further medical details may become available tomorrow, Vatican sources indicated.

Marco Mancini contributed to this report.

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The Dispatch

In praise of the walls that we need

February 27, 2025 Joseph Pearce 20

“We are builders of bridges, not of walls,” said Bishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, a senior member of the Roman Curia, in January 2017. His words were a reaction to President Trump’s ordering restrictions on immigration […]