In February 2025, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital with a serious respiratory infection. The 88-year-old pontiff — who had previously had part of a lung removed as a young man and had dealt with various health issues throughout his papacy — required hospitalization for several weeks.
The news prompted prayer vigils in St. Peter's Square and around the world. Catholics and non-Catholics alike held concern for a leader who had become a significant global moral voice.
Francis's Legacy
Pope Francis, elected in 2013 as the first Jesuit and first Latin American pope, had transformed the papacy in significant ways — emphasizing mercy, care for the poor, environmental responsibility, and reaching toward those at the margins of society. His tenure had also brought controversy within the Church.
The Question of Succession
Francis's illness naturally prompted discussion about papal succession — a process of enormous consequence for 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide.
Tampa is home to a large Catholic community. The concern felt close to home.