Pope Francis tells aides 'his end is near': A look at the pontiff's medical history

Pope Francis, 88, remains hospitalized, and has reportedly told his close aides that he may not survive pneumonia as his condition remains 'complex'.

"The follow-up chest CT scan which the Holy Father underwent this afternoon... demonstrated the onset of bilateral pneumonia, which required additional drug therapy," the Vatican said.

Bilateral pneumonia, also known as double pneumonia, is an infection that affects both lungs and can make breathing difficult.

The Vatican on Monday, said that the Pope is being treated for a ‘polymicrobial infection,’ which is caused by multiple pathogens and can lead to chronic and short-term diseases.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni visited Pope Francis for 20 minutes in the hospital Wednesday and said that he was “alert and responsive” and full of good humor. Amidst the Vatican’s confirmation that the Pope’s overall condition remains stationary, and blood tests showed a ‘slight improvement’, reports that preparations for the possible funeral have begun are also emerging. Here’s a look back at Pope Francis’ medical history

Portion of a lung removed
In 1957, when Pope Francis was in his early 20s, he underwent surgery to remove part of his lungs due to a respiratory infection while he was in his native Argentina, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Pope has been more susceptible to colds and respiratory illnesses ever since then.

Sciatica pain
Towards the end of 2020, Pope Francis canceled some of his appearances due to a ‘painful sciatica’ according to Vatican News. Reports of Pope Francis struggling to stand also made headlines in Dec. 2020.

Sciatica is a condition when the sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back to your feet, is irritated or compressed. Though it usually gets better in a few weeks of months, it is characterized by excruciating pain and paresthesias in the sciatic nerve distribution or associated lumbosacral nerve root and can severely impact the quality of life of those affected.

Pope Francis had the pain till the end of Jan. 2021, and he cancelled a few appearances due to the pain, as per the Holy See Press Office.

Narrowing of the colon
In July 2021, Pope Francis underwent surgery for diverticular stenosis of the colon. 13 inches of his colon was removed, according to Vatican News. Pope Francis spent 10 days at the Gemelli University Hospital for the procedure.

Colonic diverticulitis, a common gastrointestinal disease, is inflammation of irregular bulging pouches in the wall of the large intestine. Stenosis, on the other hand, is a rare complication of colonic diverticulitis, which can cause bowel obstruction and must be dealt with immediately. The Pope recovered from the surgery soon. However, by the beginning of 2023, the condition returned.

Recurring knee pain
Pope Francis endured knee pain throughout 2022. He was seen using a walker and sometimes a wheelchair during the year. According to Vatican News, a few of his appearances too were canceled.

Bronchitis, surgery, and the flu
Pope Francis had several ailments in 2023. In spring, he was admitted to the Gemelli University Hospital due to bronchitis, according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Following this he returned to the hospital for follow-ups.

In June, the Pope underwent an abdominal surgery at the Gemelli University Hospital, according to Vatican News. He underwent a laparotomy and abdominal wall surgery due to an incisional hernia. He remained in the hospital for 9 days.


By Nov 2023, he took a CT scan of his lungs due to flu-like symptoms according to Vatican News. The tests came back negative.

Flu-like symptoms, and fall
In 2024, Vatican News reported that Pope Francis had flu-like symptoms and visited the Gemelli University Hospital to undergo diagnostic tests. In early Dec. 2024, Pope Francis had fallen and hit his chin on the nightstand, according to Catholic News Agency. The fall led to a large hematoma (localized collection of blood) on the lower side of his chin.

On Thursday, the Vatican said that Pope Francis’ overall clinical condition is ‘improving slightly’ and his heart is working well as he battles pneumonia. In a late update, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said Francis has no fever and that his key heart parameters ‘continue to be stable.’

On Sunday, Feb 23, Pope Francis's remained in critical condition. Though the blood tests showed early kidney failure, the Vatican said that he remains alert and 'well oriented'. Some blood tests showed 'initial, mild kidney failure', however, doctor said it was under control. “The complexity of the clinical picture, and the necessary wait for drug therapies to provide some feedback, dictate that the prognosis remains reserved,” the doctors concluded.