Pope Francis, the 88-year-old head of the Catholic Church, is facing more health challenges, raising concerns that he may be nearing the end of his life.
The Vatican reported on Tuesday that Pope Francis has double pneumonia, which further complicates his already fragile health. Francis had been suffering from a respiratory infection for more than a week before being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli Hospital on Feb. 14.
Pope Francis was born in Buenos Aires and spent a good portion of his early years working as a bouncer and a janitor before training to be a chemist. In the 1950s, Francis had severe cases of pneumonia and cysts, which inspired him to join the Jesuits in 1958.
Francis was ordained a Catholic priest in 1969 and became the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998. When Pope Benedict XVI resigned on Feb. 28, 2013, a papal conclave elected Francis as his successor.
Most people don’t know that “Francis” is his papal name, chosen in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi; his birth name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Pope Francis is known for his less formal approach to the papacy compared to his predecessors. In 2023, Pope Francis told the AP that “Being homosexual is not a crime,” a statement that angered many Catholics but also opened the Church’s doors to people of all sexualities.
Francis has also made women full members of dicasteries in the Roman Curia, the administrative system of the Roman Catholic Church. He has long been a vocal advocate for social change, climate action, and refugee rights. Despite the backlash he has faced over the years, his supporters argue that his actions reflect his commitment to the core values of love, compassion, and mercy, which are central to Catholic teaching.
With Francis’ failing health, the Church faces questions about how to navigate a future without his guidance. Choosing a new pope usually takes a few days, but historically, it has lasted much longer, even years.
The pope is chosen by the College of Cardinals in a conclave. The conclave is held in the Vatican after a pope dies or resigns. While any baptized Catholic male can be elected pope, every pope since 1379 has been selected from the College of Cardinals.
In previous papal elections, 20 days after a papal vacancy, the cardinals gather in St. Peter’s Basilica for a Mass invoking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in electing a new pope. Only cardinal electors under the age of 80 are eligible to vote in the conclave. Four rounds of balloting are taken every day until a candidate receives two-thirds of the vote. Once a cardinal receives a two-thirds vote, the dean of the College of Cardinals asks him to accept the election.
When the winner of the vote accepts the election, he will then choose a papal name and dress in papal vestments before going out to the balcony of the Basilica.
As Pope Francis continues to battle his illness, the world waits to see how his potential absence will shape the future of the Catholic Church.
