Cardinal Angelo De Donatis places ashes on a fellow cardinal’s head during Ash Wednesday Mass at Santa Sabina Basilica in Rome. The Guardian
Pope Francis, who has been in the hospital for 20 days due to pneumonia, remains in stable condition. The 88-year-old pontiff spent Ash Wednesday receiving communion and an ash cross on his forehead while sitting in an armchair and continuing his work. He also made his usual call to the parish priest in Gaza.
According to the Vatican, his health has not worsened, and he continues to receive oxygen through a nasal tube. Although he remains under close medical supervision, doctors are cautious about his recovery due to the complexity of his condition. The Vatican confirmed that he would sleep with a non-invasive breathing mask overnight.
Francis was admitted to the hospital on February 14 and has faced severe health challenges. Earlier this week, he experienced two episodes of acute respiratory failure caused by mucus buildup and bronchospasms. On Friday, another bronchospasm led him to vomit and inhale some of it. He also suffered a serious breathing crisis on February 22, which required blood transfusions to stabilize his platelet levels.
Since he could not attend the Ash Wednesday Mass at Santa Sabina Basilica in Rome, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis stepped in to lead the service. Before delivering the pope’s homily, De Donatis expressed solidarity with Francis, thanking him for his prayers and suffering for the well-being of the church and its people worldwide.
The pope’s homily focused on life’s fragility, symbolized by the ashes used in the Ash Wednesday tradition. He reflected on illness, poverty, and unexpected struggles that people face. He also spoke about the dangers of ideological and environmental damage, mentioning political conflicts, misuse of power, and war.
“We are made of ashes and earth,” Francis wrote, emphasizing how sickness and hardship remind people of life’s temporary nature. He warned against ideological divisions, environmental destruction, and the resurgence of old exclusionary ideas that threaten unity and peace.
He also addressed the reality of death, calling it an unavoidable part of life. While many try to ignore or deny it, he stated that death remains a powerful reminder of how short and fragile life is. However, he also pointed to hope through Christ’s resurrection, offering comfort and meaning amid life’s struggles.
