We came across several posts on Facebook claiming that Pope Francis has passed away. Some of these posts include a screenshot of what appears to be a post from the official Vatican News X account, announcing his passing at the Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome.
These Facebook posts were largely accompanied by comments such as “RIP Pope” and expressions of sorrow over his alleged death. With a sizeable Catholic community in Singapore, the passing of the Pope – the leader of the Catholic Church – would hold great spiritual significance and likely impact local Catholics.
Concerns over the Pope’s health
Pope Francis was first admitted to Agostino Gemelli University Hospital in Rome on 14 February 2025following several days of breathing difficulties. He was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and by 22 February 2025, his condition was described as critical.
As the leader of the Catholic Church, the Pope is a central figure for approximately 1.39 billion Catholics worldwide. His declining health has sparked discussions about succession and the transition process, including the selection of a new Pope should the need arise.
Official updates from the Vatican
Despite online rumours, the latest updates from the official Vatican News social media accounts confirm that as of 23 February 2025, Pope Francis remains in critical condition but has not experienced any new respiratory complications. His prognosis remains guarded.
On 24 February 2025, the Holy See Press Office – the official press office of Vatican City’s central governing body – reported that the Pope had slept well and was resting in the hospital.
As of the time this fact-check is written, there have been no official announcements from the Vatican City confirming the Pope’s passing. The X post purported to be from the official Vatican News account was likely doctored to mislead people.
A misleading Facebook post from Tonj Times, a media company based in Juba, South Sudan also contributed to the false claims. The outlet initially reported that the Pope had passed away after “suffering a long asthmatic respiratory crisis” on the morning of 23 February 2025. However, it later issued a correction that Pope Francis is still alive and receiving medical treatment.
The confusion likely arose from a misinterpretation of a Vatican News update published in English, which stated that the Pope had a peaceful night following a prior update mentioning that the Pope had experienced an “asthma-like respiratory crisis of prolonged intensity, which required the administration of high-flow oxygen”. While English is one of South Sudan’s official languages, indigenous languages like Nuer have the most speakers, which may have contributed to the misunderstanding or translation error.
Hence, the claim that Pope Francis has passed away is false.
With news spreading rapidly online, false reports – like those claiming the Pope’s death – can cause unnecessary confusion. This highlights the importance of relying on trusted, official sources and cross-checking information before sharing it.
