Colleen and Gerry discuss Pope Francis’ double pneumonia diagnosis and whether the U.S. and the Vatican can find any common ground on key policy issues.

“I do not like to speak about the health of the pope. It’s important to be discreet, not to run after rumors and fake news,” the French Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline said at a press conference today.

The Trump administration's recent attacks on the resources and structures that serve the poor and on the religious institutions that serve the most vulnerable are unprecedented in their scale, pace and human impact.

Sam Sawyer, S.J., president and editor in chief of America, announced today the selection of three graduating seniors from three U.S. colleges to serve as the 2025-26 Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., Postgraduate Media Fellows.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni visited the pope today. In an official statement, she said that the pope was “alert and responsive” and “has not lost his legendary sense of humor.”

Doctors say pneumonia in anyone can be serious, but for someone of the pope’s age, it’s potentially life-threatening.

“The conference suddenly finds itself unable to sustain its work to care for the thousands of refugees who were welcomed into our country and assigned to the care of the USCCB by the government after being granted legal status.”

Pope Francis has developed pneumonia in both lungs according to the medical report from his doctors this evening, Feb. 18.

The pope needs to prepare for his inevitable decline and death.

His clinical condition is “complex,” the Vatican said.