Editor’s Note: It almost appears that the Vatican News Press Releases are not just a simple joke, but are a psyop to play with the minds of readers. Because this afternoon, the latest Release says that Pope Francis has been in hospital 12 days. — But today is Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, and he went into hospital on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. And if you count the full periods of 24hours each, he has been in hospital 13 * 24-hr periods. If you count days, even partial, its 14 days.

So where was he on the missing day that he was not at Gemelli? Or is the Vatican so sloppy that they cannot count on the fingers of two hands?

This morning, we were told that he had new tests taken. But today there are no results reported. Likewise, we are told Pope Francis’ condition has slightly improved, but we are not told what this statement refers to. It is not said that his condition is stable. It is not said that his condition is critical.

We are told that he is still taking air, and this time the kind of mask being used is named. That does not sound like an improvement, because the other day it was said he was receiving oxygen from a breathing tube inserted just under the nose.

However, it is still said that a prognosis cannot yet been given.

When was he taken off antibiotics?

This is sloppy reporting at the very least. Or a sloppy cover up and the best.

But in the end it will cause journalists to stop asking questions, because the Press Releases become more and more absurd.

For the Italian original, click the image above. For a Google translation into English, click here.

Finally, Il Messaggero — the newspaper which said Pope Francis had an “inferzione” — is now reporting that Pope Francis has left the critical stage of illness and is on his way to recovery. But the official press release says nothing of the kind.

This makes me recall the quip of a former head of Vatican News, in regard to Pope John Paul II’s deteriorating health:  The pope is always in good health, until he dies.