Pope Francis, at 87 years old, drew attention during a ceremony when a large, purple bruise was noticed on the right side of his chin and neck. This incident sparked concerns about his health, but the Vatican clarified that it was the result of a minor fall. On December 7th, he arrived at St. Peter’s Basilica for the installation of 21 new cardinals. Reuters reported that he seemed in otherwise good health as he appointed these new cardinals from 17 countries.

Health Issues in Recent Years

In June 2023, Pope Francis underwent intestinal surgery for an abdominal hernia due to recurring, painful, and worsening symptoms. The Vatican stated that at the end of the General Audience, he went to the A. Gemelli University Hospital for a surgical operation of laparotomy and plastic surgery of the abdominal wall with prostheses under general anesthesia. Last year in April, he was hospitalized for bronchitis. As he left the hospital, he joked that he was "still alive, you know," giving reporters a thumbs up. He also uses a wheelchair and other mobility devices due to back and knee issues.The pontiff recently made significant headlines by announcing that he will publish an autobiography titled "Hope" in January 2025. This marks the first time a sitting pope has released a memoir. The book took him six years to write with co-writer Carlo Musso and will be released in time for the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. This year-long religious event in the Catholic church encourages followers to repent for their sins, forgive others, and more. The upcoming memoir follows his March 2024 book "Life: My Story Through History" and was originally meant to be published after his death but was decided to be released in 2025 to celebrate the Jubilee year. Francis said in a statement, "The book of my life is the story of a journey of hope, a journey that I cannot separate from the journey of my family, of my people, of all God’s people. In every page, in every passage, it is also the book of those who have traveled with me, of those who came before, of those who will follow."