Pope Francis, who is recovering from pneumonia at a Rome hospital, has been receiving thousands of letters daily from well-wishers around the world, according to Italy’s postal service. The 88-year-old pontiff marked one month at Gemelli Hospital on Friday, where his condition is now stable and slowly improving after a critical period that threatened his life.
The surge in letters has overwhelmed Rome’s postal service, with the Fiumicino sorting center handling up to 150 kilograms of additional mail daily. Antonello Chidichimo, head of the sorting center, described the influx as a testament to the global affection and support for the pope.
“These days, the flow of letters and messages addressed to Pope Francis is particularly intense, a sign of the affection and closeness of the international community,” the postal service said in a statement. It also highlighted its role in ensuring that every message of support and prayer reaches the pontiff.
The Vatican has not yet announced a discharge date for Pope Francis, who remains in a special papal suite on the hospital’s 10th floor. On Friday, the Vatican confirmed that the pope had a “quiet night” and his condition remained stable, but no further medical updates were provided.
As the pope marked the 12th anniversary of his papacy on Friday, messages of support poured in from around the world. His favorite football team, Buenos Aires’ San Lorenzo club, shared a video message, while Brazilian footballer Neymar and Italy’s former player and manager Ciro Ferrara also sent their well-wishes.
Pope Francis has expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, particularly noting the heartfelt letters and drawings from children. In a message published by the Vatican last month, he thanked everyone for their “affection and closeness” during his hospitalization.