2025-02-28 18:01:01.266

Observant Muslims worldwide will observe Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and charity. It is a time of increased worship, religious reflection, charity, and good deeds, often bringing families and friends together in festive gatherings. Ramadan is followed by Eid al-Fitr. This year, Ramadan begins around March 1st and its start date may vary slightly based on moon sightings. Fasting, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, involves abstaining from food and drink from dawn till sunset. Exemptions exist for illness or travel. Ramadan is marked by increased mosque attendance, Quran recitation, and charitable giving, including providing iftar meals for the needy. Cultural traditions vary widely, from the mesaharati's pre-dawn calls in Egypt to communal feasts in Indonesia and festive markets in India. Concerns exist regarding the commercialization of Ramadan, but many see a balance between religious observance and festive celebrations. This year, Ramadan occurs amidst the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and significant political changes in the Middle East, such as the fall of the Syrian government.

2025-02-27 07:45:51.667

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement as he battles double pneumonia, but doctors said Wednesday his prognosis is still guarded. A chest CT scan taken Tuesday evening showed the “normal evolution” of an infection as it is being treated, the Vatican said in its late update. The 88-year-old pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen but hasn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday. Blood tests, which had shown some low platelet counts and anemia, have confirmed an improvement and the slight kidney insufficiency detected a few days ago has receded, the statement said. Francis is continuing to receive respiratory physiotherapy, the statement said. It was the first time the Vatican has confirmed Francis was receiving physiotherapy to help him expel fluid from his lungs. A complex lung infection has kept the 88-year-old pope hospitalized in critical condition since Feb. 14. Francis has chronic lung disease and was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital after a bout of bronchitis worsened. While doctors didn’t repeat that he was in critical condition in Wednesday’s update, as they have in recent days, they said his prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn’t out of danger. The pope resumed work in the afternoon from his hospital room, after receiving the Eucharist in the morning. And in a sign the Holy See machinery was grinding on, the Vatican announced he had appointed four new bishops and approved the creation of a new fundraising initiative to encourage donations to the Holy See, which has been enduring a financial crisis for years. Francis likely approved the bishop appointments awhile back and the new norms for the fundraising entity were approved Feb. 11, before he was hospitalized. But the announcements made them official and suggested Francis was still very much in charge and governing. Pilgrims descend on the hospital to be closer to Francis. If he were to look out the hospital window from the 10th floor, he might see that a steady stream of well-wishers are lighting candles and leaving him balloons and get-well cards at the statue of St. John Paul II near the Gemelli entrance. It has become something of a makeshift pilgrimage destination, especially for church groups in town for the Vatican’s Holy Year. On Wednesday, Bishop Gerardo Villalonga from Menorca, Spain led a group of 50 pilgrims to the site, saying they wanted to be as close to him as possible. “Because when a family has someone who is sick it is very important that they are surrounded, it is necessary that everyone is near to them, and all the people of God are close the pope,” he said. At dusk, trumpeter Felice Carella and singer Davide Capuano serenaded the pope with a rendition of Schubert’s Ave Maria under his window. “For me this is not a simple song, this is a big prayer for the pope so that he will better,” Capuano said. “These are terrible days and I hope the whole world can pray together with us.” Cardinal Re picked to lead prayer vigil on Wednesday. The dean of the College of Cardinals, meanwhile, was designated to lead the Vatican’s prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday night, thrusting a key figure in a future possible conclave into the spotlight. Francis recently extended the term of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, keeping him in the important job rather than naming someone new. As is now popularly known thanks to the Oscar-nominated film “Conclave,” the dean is a key point of reference for cardinals. He presides over a papal funeral and organizes the conclave to elect a new pope. From 2000-2010, Re was prefect of the Vatican’s congregation for bishops, one of the most powerful and influential positions in the Holy See. Francis made him dean in 2020 and confirmed him in the job in January despite the expiration of his five-year term. The faithful from Francis’ homeland, meanwhile, gathered in the Argentine church of Rome for a special Mass presided over by Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, the pope’s vicar for Rome. Reina also celebrated the lunchtime Mass on Wednesday at Gemelli to pray for Francis. Sister Nilda Trejo, an Argentine nun, said that she knew Francis’ health has always been delicate, with problems breathing and speaking loudly, and that’s why she always prayed for him. “We knew that he often found it difficult,” she said. “In fact, you see that at the beginning of Mass, the microphone always has to be turned up because he has a bit of trouble. But he always spoke to the people. To the heart of the people.”

2025-02-27 07:40:28.988

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement as he battles double pneumonia, but doctors said Wednesday his prognosis is still guarded. A chest CT scan taken Tuesday evening showed the “normal evolution” of an infection as it is being treated, the Vatican said in its late update. The 88-year-old pope, who had part of one lung removed as a young man, is still receiving high flows of supplemental oxygen but hasn’t had any more respiratory crises since Saturday. Blood tests, which had shown some low platelet counts and anemia, have confirmed an improvement and the slight kidney insufficiency detected a few days ago has receded, the statement said. Francis is continuing to receive respiratory physiotherapy, the statement said. It was the first time the Vatican has confirmed Francis was receiving physiotherapy to help him expel fluid from his lungs. A complex lung infection has kept the 88-year-old pope hospitalized in critical condition since Feb. 14. Francis has chronic lung disease and was admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital after a bout of bronchitis worsened. While doctors didn’t repeat that he was in critical condition in Wednesday’s update, as they have in recent days, they said his prognosis remained guarded, meaning he wasn’t out of danger. The pope resumed work in the afternoon from his hospital room, after receiving the Eucharist in the morning. And in a sign the Holy See machinery was grinding on, the Vatican announced he had appointed four new bishops and approved the creation of a new fundraising initiative to encourage donations to the Holy See, which has been enduring a financial crisis for years. Francis likely approved the bishop appointments awhile back and the new norms for the fundraising entity were approved Feb. 11, before he was hospitalized. But the announcements made them official and suggested Francis was still very much in charge and governing. Pilgrims descend on the hospital to be closer to Francis. If he were to look out the hospital window from the 10th floor, he might see that a steady stream of well-wishers are lighting candles and leaving him balloons and get-well cards at the statue of St. John Paul II near the Gemelli entrance. It has become something of a makeshift pilgrimage destination, especially for church groups in town for the Vatican’s Holy Year. On Wednesday, Bishop Gerardo Villalonga from Menorca, Spain led a group of 50 pilgrims to the site, saying they wanted to be as close to him as possible. Cardinal Re picked to lead prayer vigil on Wednesday. The dean of the College of Cardinals, meanwhile, was designated to lead the Vatican’s prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday night, thrusting a key figure in a future possible conclave into the spotlight. Francis recently extended the term of Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, keeping him in the important job rather than naming someone new. From 2000-2010, Re was prefect of the Vatican’s congregation for bishops, one of the most powerful and influential positions in the Holy See. Francis made him dean in 2020 and confirmed him in the job in January despite the expiration of his five-year term. The faithful from Francis’ homeland, meanwhile, gathered in the Argentine church of Rome for a special Mass presided over by Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, the pope’s vicar for Rome. Reina also celebrated the lunchtime Mass on Wednesday at Gemelli to pray for Francis. Sister Nilda Trejo, an Argentine nun, said that she knew Francis’ health has always been delicate, with problems breathing and speaking loudly, and that’s why she always prayed for him.

2025-02-27 07:40:09.216

Pope Francis is showing slight improvement in his battle against double pneumonia, but doctors say his prognosis is still guarded. A CT scan showed the infection is responding to treatment, and his blood test results have improved, with reduced kidney insufficiency and increased platelet counts and hemoglobin levels. He continues to receive high-flow oxygen and respiratory physiotherapy. While no longer explicitly described as being in critical condition, his prognosis remains guarded. Despite his hospitalization, the Pope resumed work from his hospital room, appointing new bishops and approving a new fundraising initiative. Meanwhile, pilgrims gather outside the hospital to offer prayers and well wishes, and a prayer vigil is being held in St. Peter's Square. The dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, is leading the vigil, highlighting his importance in the event of a papal succession. The faithful from Francis’ homeland gathered in the Argentine church of Rome for a special Mass, praying for his health.

2025-02-27 05:16:00.276

Pope Francis has shown further slight improvement in his battle against double pneumonia, but doctors maintain a guarded prognosis. A chest CT scan revealed the infection is evolving normally under treatment. The 88-year-old pontiff, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, continues to receive high-flow supplemental oxygen but hasn't experienced respiratory crises since Saturday. Blood tests indicate improvement in low platelet counts and anemia, and kidney insufficiency has receded. He's undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to help expel fluid from his lungs. The Pope resumed work from his hospital room and made several official appointments, suggesting he remains in charge despite his condition. Meanwhile, pilgrims gather outside the hospital to offer prayers and well wishes. The dean of the College of Cardinals will lead a prayer vigil, highlighting the significance of this key figure in a potential future conclave.

2025-02-26 19:24:50.802

Simona Pettinato, among many gathered outside Gemelli Hospital, exemplifies the faith fueling prayers for Pope Francis, hospitalized since February 14th with pneumonia. The Vatican describes his condition as "complex" and prognosis as "reserved," despite reports of slight improvement. This is Francis' longest hospital stay since 2013, keeping the church's central administration on high alert. Twice-daily health updates trigger waves of anxiety and anticipation among reporters and officials. Doctors provide briefings, offering glimpses of hope alongside uncertainty. From his 10th-floor suite, the pope maintains some work activities, making phone calls and showing resilience. A makeshift shrine beneath a John Paul II statue at the hospital reflects public devotion. Similar scenes unfold in St. Peter's Square, where daily rosary services echo those held for John Paul II in 2005. Pilgrims and tourists join the prayers, highlighting Francis' global influence. Cardinal Timothy Dolan's suggestion of the Pope's possible near-death has added to the tension, although he lacks privileged information. Interfaith prayers underscore Francis' bridge-building legacy. The atmosphere in the Vatican resembles a pre-conclave, fueled by the movie "Conclave's" popularity and daily evening prayer services led by different cardinals. However, despite his frailty, Francis remains determined, driven by a deep sense of mission. His recent meetings and announcements signal his continued authority. His proactive release of detailed health updates and meeting with the Italian Prime Minister before Vatican officials showcase his political astuteness. The prolonged hospitalization fuels speculation about a possible resignation, especially given a 2013 letter addressing incapacitation. The situation is described as a "montagne russe" – a rollercoaster – reflecting the uncertainty and intense emotions surrounding the Pope's health and future.