Pope Francis’ health has been a source of concern among many Catholics, particularly in the Vatican. On Tuesday evening, a Vatican spokesperson announced that the Pope is suffering from double pneumonia, an infection that has affected both of his lungs. As a result, he will remain in recovery at Gemelli Hospital in Rome, and all his activities have been cancelled.

In recent days, Pope Francis has appeared increasingly fragile, and due to breathlessness, homilies and speeches have had to be read to him by others.

This development has increased speculation about potential “papable” Cardinals: those who might succeed Pope Francis should the need arise. Some journals have already begun publishing lists of potential papal successors in the event of Pope Francis’ death. These lists include Gozitan Cardinal Mario Grech, ranked seventh in the New York Post’s classification.

Meanwhile, the National Catholic Register has addressed the Pope’s medical issues over recent years.

December 2020: Severe sciatic pain during the final days of 2020 prevented Pope Francis from presiding over Vatican liturgies on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Pope Francis has long suffered from sciatica, as he mentioned in a press conference during his return flight from Brazil in July 2013. “Sciatica is very painful, very painful! I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” he remarked about the condition, which causes pain from the lower back down the leg to the foot.

January 2021: The Pope cancels three further public engagements at the end of the month due to persistent sciatic pain.

July 2021: Pope Francis was hospitalised on 4 July for surgery to address a colon issue caused by diverticulitis. The three-hour procedure, which included a left hemicolectomy (the removal of part of the colon), was followed by an 11-day recovery at Gemelli Hospital.

January 2022: Pope Francis revealed he was experiencing knee problems, explaining to journalists on 17 January, “I apologise if I remain seated, but today my leg hurts… it’s painful when I stand.” He also mentioned a temporary issue with an inflamed ligament in his right knee, which was affecting his ability to walk and greet pilgrims as usual.

February 2022: Pope Francis cancelled two public events in late February due to knee pain and doctor’s orders to rest. In the following month, although he required assistance climbing and descending stairs, he continued to walk and stand independently.

April 2022: During a trip to Malta, Pope Francis used a lift to disembark from the papal plane, and a special lift was installed at St. Paul’s Basilica in Rabat so that he could visit and pray in the crypt without using stairs. On his return flight on 3 April, he informed journalists, “My health is a bit frail; I have this knee problem, which also affects my foot.”

During the Vatican Good Friday service, the Pope did not appear before the altar as in previous years. He also skipped the Easter Vigil Mass on 16 April and did not participate in the Easter candle procession, instead sitting in front of the congregation on a white chair.

On 22 and 26 April, the Pope’s agenda was adjusted to allow for medical checks and knee rest. The following day, he told pilgrims in his general audience that his knee would not allow him to live a long life. Pope Francis also began using the papamobile to greet pilgrims in St Peter’s Square. On 30 April, he announced that his doctor had advised him against walking.

May 2022: Pope Francis revealed that he would undergo a medical procedure on his knee involving “infiltrations”, likely a therapeutic injection to relieve ligament pain. Two days later, he appeared in public using a wheelchair for the first time since his colon surgery in 2021.

Throughout May, he continued to use the wheelchair and avoided standing or walking, while undergoing two hours of knee rehabilitation each day. Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández tweeted on 14 May that the treatment was yielding positive results, with the Pope’s knee improving steadily.

Despite his knee issues, the Pope jokingly told a seminarian following a Mass on 15 May, “Do you know what I need for my knee? A bit of tequila.”

June 2022: At the start of June, the Vatican postponed Pope Francis’ planned visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan to avoid compromising the results of his knee therapy. The trip had been scheduled for 2-7 July. The Vatican also announced that Pope Francis would not preside over the Corpus Christi Mass on 16 June due to knee problems and the liturgical requirements of the event.

On 15 June, the Pope reflected on the effects of aging during his general audience, stating: “When you are old, you lose control of your body. One must learn to choose what to do and what not to do. The strength of the body diminishes, and we must listen to and accept its limits.”

Later that month, on 28 June, Pope Francis used a walking stick to meet with Bishops from Brazil, remarking, “I could walk for three days.”

August 2022: On 4 August, the Vatican announced that Massimiliano Strappetti, a Vatican nurse, had been appointed as Pope Francis’ “personal healthcare assistant.”

November 2022: Dr José María Villalón, chief doctor of the Atlético de Madrid football team, was recruited to assist with the Pope’s knee treatment. He described Pope Francis as “a very good patient”, though noted that the Pope preferred conservative treatments over surgery.

January 2023: In an interview published on 25 January, Pope Francis disclosed that his diverticulitis had returned but emphasised that he was in “good health” and described his condition as “normal” for his age.

February 2023: On 23 February, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had a respiratory issue. He distributed copies of his speeches during two morning appointments rather than reading them aloud.

March 2023: On 29 March, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis was hospitalised for a few days due to a respiratory infection. Earlier that day, the Vatican had stated that the Pope was in the hospital for routine medical check-ups.

June 2023: On 7 June, Pope Francis underwent a three-hour abdominal operation to repair a hernia. A surgical team removed scar tissue from a previous surgical incision and repaired the hernia in the Pope’s abdominal wall. He was discharged from the hospital on 16 June after an eight-day stay and was recovering from the procedure.

November 2023: The Pope was diagnosed with a “mild influenza”, prompting him to cancel scheduled meetings and visit the hospital on 25 November for precautionary tests. A CT scan confirmed lung inflammation, which was causing breathing difficulties. Pope Francis was treated with intravenous antibiotics and later appeared in public, using a stick to walk, though he remarked that he was unable to view the window during his Angelus address on 26 November due to the lung inflammation.

December 2024: Pope Francis arrived at St Peter’s Basilica with visible bruising on his face. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni explained that the Pope had suffered a contusion after hitting his chin against his bedside in the morning.

As Pope Francis continues to navigate his health challenges, speculation regarding his potential successors is likely to intensify. It is expected that more names will emerge as potential candidates to assume the papacy should the need arise. As the Vatican watches closely, the faithful and the broader Catholic community remain attentive to these developments, awaiting any official announcements or shifts in the Church’s leadership that may follow. The future of the papacy, as ever, remains uncertain, but these conversations highlight the importance of preparation for such a significant transition.

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