Pope Francis celebrates 12 years of leadership among the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics, with ongoing positive updates regarding his health four weeks after being admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital for double pneumonia. The Vatican reported that Francis had another calm night, and a chest X-ray confirmed his improving condition, which was stable yet complex given his overall frailty. Elected as the new pope on March 13, 2013, following the surprise resignation of Pope Benedict XVI, Francis has been a champion for compassion and peace, implementing reforms in the Vatican government and tackling clerical child abuse despite facing challenges and criticism. His battle against sexual abuse by clergy has seen mixed results, with some activists calling for more substantial action. Diplomatically, Francis has made numerous trips, focusing on marginalized communities and has been a vocal advocate for environmental issues. He has also been at the forefront of promoting social justice and implementing reforms within the Catholic Church, though he faces opposition from traditionalists and critics.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/13/pope-francis-marks-12-years-as-head-of-catholic-church-in-hospital?traffic_source=rss