Everyone asks the same thing every time a major holiday rolls around or a trip gets canceled: is the pope ok? It’s a fair question. Honestly, it’s the question that defines the current state of the Vatican. We’ve seen him in the wheelchair. We’ve heard the breathless reports of "respiratory difficulties" or "persistent flu-like symptoms." It feels like we are constantly on the edge of a major transition, yet Pope Francis keeps showing up. He keeps pushing.
He’s nearly 90. Let that sink in for a second. Most people at 89 are lucky to be walking to the mailbox, let alone managing a global organization with over a billion followers while navigating the shark-infested waters of international diplomacy.
The reality of his health is a mix of chronic issues and surprising resilience. It isn’t just one thing. It’s the cumulative effect of a long life and some pretty significant medical history that dates back to his youth in Argentina. If you’re looking for a simple "yes" or "no," you won't find it here. Health at that age is a day-to-day negotiation.
The Knee, the Chair, and the Optics of Aging
For a long time, the most visible sign of trouble was the cane, then the walker, and finally the wheelchair. It’s all down to a fractured knee and inflamed ligaments. Doctors told him to get surgery. He said no. Why? Because he had a bad reaction to the general anesthesia during his colon surgery in 2021. He’s scared of what that kind of sedation does to his brain, and honestly, can you blame him?
So, he does physical therapy. He uses the chair.
Some traditionalists in the church hate the wheelchair. They think it projects weakness. But Francis has flipped the script, basically saying that you lead with your head and your heart, not your legs. It’s a massive shift in how the papacy looks to the world. He’s showing that being "ok" doesn't mean being a marathon runner; it means being present.
But the mobility isn't what usually sparks the "is the pope ok" Google searches. It's the breathing.
That Persistent Cough and the Missing Lung
Here is a fact that a lot of people forget: Francis had a portion of his right lung removed when he was a young man in Buenos Aires. It was a severe case of pneumonia. While you can live a perfectly normal life with one-and-a-half lungs, it makes you incredibly vulnerable when you get older.
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Every time a cold sweeps through Rome, it hits him twice as hard. In late 2023 and throughout 2024, we saw him skip speeches because of "bronchitis." He’s had to have aides read his addresses. This isn't just "being tired." It's his body forcing him to conserve oxygen.
When the Vatican Press Office says he has "the flu," they aren't necessarily lying, but for Francis, the flu is a high-stakes medical event. He’s been hospitalized at Gemelli Hospital multiple times recently for respiratory issues. Each time he goes in, the world holds its breath. Each time he comes out, he’s cracking jokes about being "still alive."
Diverticulitis and the 2021 Surgery
We have to talk about his gut. In July 2021, he had 33 centimeters of his colon removed. The technical term is diverticular stenosis. It was a major operation. Then, in 2023, he had abdominal surgery to repair a hernia that was causing intestinal blockages.
This is where the concern gets real. Abdominal surgeries are brutal on the elderly. They mess with your digestion, your energy levels, and your ability to stand for long periods. If you notice him looking particularly pale or thin during a Wednesday audience, it’s usually because he’s recovering from one of these internal flares.
The Vatican is notoriously secretive about the specifics. They give us the "what" but rarely the "how bad." This lack of transparency is what fuels the rumors. Is the pope ok? Physically, he’s a man who has undergone multiple major surgeries in his late 80s. He’s managing chronic pain. He’s managing respiratory limitations.
The Mental Game: Is He Still "All There"?
While the body is struggling, his mind seems sharp. If you watch his unscripted interviews—like the ones he does on the plane or with local journalists—he’s still quick. He’s still biting. He still remembers names and obscure theological points from decades ago.
There have been zero credible reports of cognitive decline. None.
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In fact, his mental sharpness is almost a problem for his detractors. They’d prefer if he were slowing down, but he’s still pushing through controversial reforms, firing bishops who disagree with him, and trying to decentralize the church power structure. He’s playing the long game.
He has mentioned the possibility of resignation, though. He’s praised Pope Benedict XVI for having the courage to step down. Francis has even said he’s already signed a resignation letter to be used in case of "permanent impairment." That’s a huge deal. It means he knows the limit. He isn’t going to stay until the bitter end if he can’t actually do the job.
What to Watch For in the Coming Months
If you want to know if the pope is ok, don't look at the official press releases. Look at the schedule.
- International Travel: When he cancels a trip, like he did with COP28 in Dubai, it’s a red flag. If he stays grounded in Rome for more than three months, something is up.
- The Voice: Listen to his Sunday Angelus. If his voice is thin and he’s gasping for air between sentences, his lungs are struggling.
- The Eyes: Francis is a very expressive man. When he’s in pain, you can see it in his brow.
- The Gemelli Stay: If he goes to Gemelli Hospital for "scheduled tests," it’s often a cover for a procedure. If he stays more than three days, the situation is serious.
The Vatican has a specialized medical team that follows him everywhere. They have a mini-hospital room set up wherever he travels. He is probably the most closely monitored 89-year-old on the planet.
The Politics of a "Sick" Pope
There’s a weird, slightly dark side to this. There are groups within the Church who are basically "waiting him out." They want a more conservative successor. Every time he coughs, the betting markets for the next Conclave heat up.
This puts a lot of pressure on him to appear "ok" even when he isn't. He has to balance his actual physical limitations with the need to show he’s still in charge. It’s a performance. It’s a grueling, 24/7 performance of health.
When people ask "is the pope ok," they are often asking "is the papacy stable?" Right now, the answer is yes, but it’s a fragile stability. He is one bad pneumonia case away from a transition.
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Practical Insights for the Informed Observer
To stay truly informed about the Pope's health without falling for tabloid sensationalism, you need to filter the noise.
First, follow reputable Vaticanistas. These are journalists like Matteo Bruni (who runs the press office) or veteran reporters like Gerard O’Connell from America Magazine and Nicole Winfield from the Associated Press. They have the "on-the-ground" view that Google News often misses. They can tell the difference between a tired Pope and a sick Pope.
Second, understand the climate. Rome is damp and cold in the winter. Francis almost always struggles between December and March. If you see headlines about him being sick in February, don't panic immediately; it’s his "bad season."
Third, look at the output. A sick man doesn't write encyclicals. A sick man doesn't appoint 21 new cardinals in a single go. As long as the administrative machine is churning and he's making appointments, he's functional.
Ultimately, the Pope is "ok" in the way any man in his late 80s with a missing lung and a resected colon is "ok." He’s surviving. He’s functioning. But he’s clearly in the twilight of his reign.
Keep an eye on the official Vatican News YouTube channel. Watching the raw footage of his audiences—not just the highlights—gives you the best sense of his energy levels. If he’s cracking smiles and shaking hands from the chair, he’s doing fine. If he’s being wheeled out and barely looking up, that’s when the "is the pope ok" question carries a lot more weight.
Check the official schedule for upcoming foreign apostolic journeys. If a trip to a high-altitude or high-heat region is announced and stays on the books, it’s the ultimate sign of confidence from his medical team. If those trips start disappearing, start preparing for the end of this papacy.